E. HOW THE KHANAT IS PEOPLED. Khiva is peopled by, 1. Özbegs; 2. Turkomans; 3. Karakalpak; 4. Kasak (called by us Kirghis); 5. Sart; 6. Persians. 1. Özbegs. This is the designation of a people for the most part inhabiting settled abodes, and occupying themselves with the cultivation of the earth. They extend from the southern point of the Sea of Aral as far as Komul (distant a journey of forty days from Kashgar), and are looked upon as the prominent race in the three knanats. According to their divisions, they fall into thirty-two principal taife (tribes).* This division is old, but it is very remarkable that even these particular tribes are scattered almost indiscriminately over the ground above mentioned, and it seems astonishing, and, indeed, almost incredible, that Özbegs of Khiva, Khokand, and Yerkend, differing in language, customs, and physiognomy, represent themselves nevertheless as members not only of one and the same nation, but of the very same tribe or clan. I will here only remark that in Khiva most of the tribes have representatives, and the Khivite has a * As, 1. Kungrat; 2. Kiptchak; 3. Khitai; 4. Manghit; 5. Nöks; 6. Nayman; 7. Kulan; 8. Kiet; 9. Az; 10. Taz; 11. Sayat; 12. Djagatai; 13. Uygur; 14. Akbet; 15. Dörmen; 16. Öshün; 17. Kandjigaly; 18. Nogai; 19. Balgali; 20. Miten; 21. Djelair; 22. Kenegöz; 23. Kanli; 24. Ichkili; 25. Bagurlü; 26. Altchin; 27. Atchmayli; 28. Karakursak; 29. Birkulak; 30. Tyrkysh; 31. Kettekeser; 32. Ming. CHAP. XVII. MUSIC AND NATIONAL POETS. 397 legitimate pride in the purity of his ancient Özbeg nationality, as contrasted with that of Bokhara and Kashgar. At the very first sight, however, the Khivan Özbeg betrays the mixture of his blood with the Iran elements, for he has a beard, always to be regarded in the Turanis as a foreign peculiarity, but his complexion and form of countenance indicate very often genuine Tartar origin. Even in the traits of his character the Khivan Özbeg is preferable to his relatives in the other races. He is honest and openhearted, and has the savage nature of the nomads that surround him without the refined cunning of Oriental civilization. He ranks next to the pure Osmanli of Turkey, and it may be said of both that something may still be made out of them. Khiva is less instructed in the doctrine of Islamism than Bokhara, a circumstance that has had much influence in producing the following result: the retention by the Khivan Özbeg not only of many of the national usages of heathenism, but also of the religious observances of the Parsees. A predilection in favor of music and the national poetry of the Turks, more passionately cultivated by the nomads of Central Asia than by any civilized nation, has been here more strictly maintained than in Khokand, Bokhara, and Kashgar. The Khivan players on the dutar (a guitar with two strings) and koboz (lute) are in high renown throughout all Turkestan; and not only is Nevai, the greatest of the Özbeg poets, familiar to every one, but no ten years elapse without the appearance of lyrists of the second or third rank. I became acquainted in Khiva with two broth ers; one, Munis, wrote excellent poems, of which it is my purpose later to publish several, and the other, Mirab, had the extraordinary patience to translate into the Özbeg-Turkish dialect the great historical work of Mirkhond, to render it more accessible to his son, who was nevertheless acquainted with Persian. The work employed him twenty years, but he was ashamed to communicate the fact to any one, for a man who busies himself with any other branch of learning than religion is there regarded as a very superficial person. Many centuries have elapsed since their first settlement, and yet the Khivan customs still retain the impress of the early heroic age. early heroic age. Mimic battles, wrestling, and particularly horse-races, occur frequently. In the latter very brilliant prizes await the win Every wedding of distinction is honored by a race of 9, 19, 29, which means that the winner receives from the giver of the festival, of all or part of his property, 9, 19, 29-for instance, 9 sheep, 19 goats, and so on; these often yield him a consideraSmaller races of less importance consist of what is styled Kokbüri (green wolf), of which we have already spoken when treating of the Turkomans. There are festivals and sports in Khiva which have been handed down from the primitive inhabitants, who were fire-worshipers: they once existed in other parts of Central Asia before the introduction of Islam, but they are at the present day quite forgotten. CHAP. XVII. KHANAT, HOW PEOPLED. 399 2. Turkomans. Of these we have already spoken at large. There are in Khiva (a) Yomuts who inhabit the borders of the desert from Köhne to Gazavat, the district of Karayilghin, Köktcheg, Özbegyap, Bedrkend, and Medemin. (b) Tchaudor, who wander about also in the land around Köhne, namely, near Kizil Takir, and Porsu, but more to the west, in the country between the Aral and Caspian Seas. Of Göklen there are very few. 3. Karakalpak. These inhabit the farther bank of the Oxus, opposite Görlens, far away up close to Kungrat, in the vicinity of extensive forests, where they occupy themselves with the breeding of cattle; they have few horses and hardly any sheep. The Karakalpak pique themselves upon possessing the most beautiful women in Turkestan; but, on the other side, they are themselves described as being the greatest idiots, and I have heard many anecdotes confirming this assertion.* Their number is computed at 10,000 tents. From time out of mind they have been subject to Khiva. Forty years ago they rebelled under their leader Aydost, who invaded Kungrat, but were, at a later date, * Of this nation I have found ten principal tribes: 1. Baymakli. 5. Kaytchili Khitai. 6. Ingakli. 7. Kenegöz. 8. Tomboyun. 9. Shakoo. 10. Ontönturûk. |