GENERAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR ON PART OF CENTRAL ASIA.

Notice regarding the Map of Central Asia[147]
CHAPTER I.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE KINGDOM OF BOKHARA.
Limits and Extent.—Natural and political Divisions.—Physical Geography: Face of the Country.—Climate and Phenomena.—Rivers.—Mountains.—Mineral Productions.—Vegetable.—Necessaries of Life.—Fruits and Wines.—Domestic Animals.—Wild Animals.—Birds.—Silk Worms.—Diseases: Guinea Worm.—Cities and Towns.—Population of the Kingdom[153]-[185]
CHAP. II.
THE RIVER OXUS, OR AMOO; WITH SOME NOTICE OF THE SEA OF ARAL.
Source and Course of the Oxus.—Sea of Aral.—Capabilities of the Oxus.—Depth, Current, and Slope.—Inundation.—Freezing.—Craft on the Oxus.—Mode of navigating them.—Wood of the Oxus.—Political and commercial Advantages of the River[186]-[199]
CHAP. III.
ON THE VALLEY OF THE OXUS, ETC.
Sketch of the Countries upon it.—Koondooz.—Budukhshan.—Ruby Mines.—Lapis Lazuli.—Mountain Districts North of Budukhshan.—Their Language.—Pamere.—Singular Animal, the Rass.—Chitral.—Gilgit.—Iskardo.—Their Language.—Kaffirs.—Their Descent from Alexander questioned.—Their Customs[200]-[213]
CHAP. IV.
ON THE REPUTED DESCENDANTS ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
Traditions regarding them.—Actual Condition of these reputed Descendants.—Examination of their Claims.—Conjectures[214]-[219]
CHAP. V.
ON THE SOURCES OF THE INDUS.
Interest attached to the Subject.—Received Opinions.—Their Error.—Description of the Shyook, the great Head of the Indus.—The Western Branch.—Country enclosed by both.—Name of Cashgar misapplied.—Errors pointed out[220]-[226]
CHAP. VI.
NOTICE OF YARKUND, AND ITS INTERCOURSE WITH PEKIN, BOKHARA, AND TIBET.
Chinese Province of Yarkund.—Sketch of its History.—Mode of governing it by the Chinese.—Singular Mode of communicating with Pekin.—Inhabitants.—Kalmuks, curious Customs.—Anecdote of the Chinese Police.—Country between Yarkund and Tibet.—Communications with Bokhara.—Notice of Kokan[227]-[237]
CHAP. VII.
ON THE MOUNTAINS OF HINDOO KOOSH.
Range so called.—Height.—General Features.—Productions.—Formation of the Rocks.—True Mountain of Hindoo Koosh[238]-[248]
CHAP. VIII.
TOORKMANIA, OR THE COUNTRY OF THE TOORKMUNS.
Toorkmania: Country so called.—Nature of it and the Toorkmuns.—Origin of the Toorkmuns.—Tribes.—Language.—Account of Merve.—General Characteristics of the People of Toorkmania[249]-[261]
CHAP. IX.
ON THE INROADS OF THE TATARS, WITH A NOTICE OF THE TRIBES IN TOORKISTAN.
Invasions of the Tatars sketched.—Sources from whence they sprung, investigated.—Exaggerated Numbers.—Probabilities of Success in modern Times.—Only two great tribes, Toorks and Mundshoors.—Appearance of Tatars.—Physiognomy.—Chaghtye and Uzbeks.—Kalmuks.—Kuzzaks and Kirgizzes.—Citizens of Toorkistan.—Tatar and Magi Religion.—Concluding Observations[262]-[270]
CHAP. X.
ON THE HORSES OF TOORKISTAN.
Toorkmun Horse.—Tradition of its Lineage.—Mode of Feeding.—Varieties of the Toorkmun Horse.—Extent of the Trade.—Great Characteristics of this noble Animal[271]-[277]

BOOK II.

AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE COUNTRIES BETWEEN INDIA AND THE CASPIAN SEA.

CHAPTER I.
THE PUNJAB.
Limits of Runjeet Sing’s Power.—Its Rise.—State of the Government.—Its Decline.—Influence of the Chiefs.—The People.—Military Strength of the Country.—Revenues and Resources.—Foreign Policy.—General Character of the Government.—Its probable Termination[279]-[298]
CHAP. II.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF EVENTS IN AFGHANISTAN, SINCE THE YEAR 1809.
Introductory Remarks.—Shah Shooja deposed.—Elevation of his Brother Mahmood.—Capture of Cashmere.—League with the Seiks.—Loss of Attok.—Rupture with them.—Battle with the Persians.—Seizure of the Vizier.—His cruel Death.—Fall of Mahmood.—Recall of Shooja.—High-mindedness of his Queen.—Shooja’s Escape.—Elevation of his Brother Eyoob.—Loss of Cashmere.—Great Progress of the Seiks.—Total Dismemberment of the Cabool Monarchy[299]-[318]
CHAP. III.
CHIEFSHIP OF PESHAWUR.
Extent of it.—Military and political Strength.—Political Relations.—Its Chief: his Government.—Productions.—Feasible Improvements.—Its Minerals.—Coal, &c.—Great Value of the Article[319]-[328]
CHAP. IV.
CHIEFSHIP OF CABOOL.
Its Boundaries.—Character of Dost Mahommed Khan.—His Relations.—Cabool: its Supplies[329]-[336]
CHAP. V.
ON THE AFFAIRS OF WESTERN AFGHANISTAN.
Chiefs of Candahar and Herat.—Their Government[337]-[340]
CHAP. VI.
SUMMARY ON THE AFFAIRS OF CABOOL.
Remarks on the Overthrow of the Dynasty.—Improbabilities of its Restoration.—Relative Power of Cabool and Persia[341]-[345]
CHAP. VII.
ON THE POWER OF KOONDOOZ.
Extent of the Chiefship.—History of its Chief, Moorad Beg: his Policy and Power.—Revenues and Administration.—His Character[346]-[354]
CHAP. VIII.
SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF BOKHARA.
Early History.—From the Age of Jengis Khan to that of the Uzbeks.—Reign of Nadir Shah.—King Hyder and the present Ruler[355]-[361]
CHAP. IX.
ON THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY POWER OF BOKHARA.
Importance of the Kingdom.—Power and Character of the King,—Koosh Begee, or Vizier.—Supremacy of the Church.—Administration.—Police.—Revenues.—Military Force and Spirit of the Uzbeks.—Detail of the Troops.—Foreign Policy of Bokhara: with China—Cabool—Persia—Turkey.—Connexion with Russia[362]-[381]
CHAP. X.
ON THE STATE OF KHIVA, OR ORGUNJE.
Limits.—Khiva: its Rise—Power and military Strength.—Predatory Habits of the Khivans.—Affairs of Khiva and Russia[382]-[388]
CHAP. XI.
ON THE N.E. FRONTIERS OF PERSIA.—THE KOORDS AND TOORKMUNS.
Power of Persia over these Tribes.—Koord and other Chiefs.—Weakness of the Persian Frontier[389]-[393]

BOOK III.

ON THE COMMERCE OF CENTRAL ASIA.

CHAPTER I.
ON THE COMMERCIAL RELATIONS OF THE PUNJAB, AND THE ADVANTAGES OF OPENING THE INDUS.
Favourable Position of the Punjab for Trade.—Extent and Variety of its Productions—Shawls of Cashmere.—Extent of the Manufacture.—Silks.—Cottons.—Minerals.—Vegetables.—Advantages of opening the Indus to the Punjab Trade.—Effects of it on the Towns of the Indus.—Articles brought into Demand by it.—Cotton.—Chintses.—Jewellery, Cutlery, &c.—Depôt for a Water Commerce.—Political Condition of the Country[395]-[412]
CHAP. II.
ON THE COMMERCE OF CABOOL.
Routes from India on Cabool.—Carriers of the Trade.—Imports.—Disposition of the Cabool Chiefs towards their Extension.—Remarks[413]-[421]
CHAP. III.
ON THE COMMERCE AND FOREIGN COMMUNICATIONS OF BOKHARA AND CENTRAL ASIA.
Progress of Commerce between Europe and Asia.—Success of the Russians.—British Indian Trade.—Alteration of the Routes of Commerce.—Negotiations of Russia.—Exports from India and Russia to Bokhara.—Prices of Merchandize.—Chintses.—White Goods.—Broad Cloth.—Velvets.—Nankeens. Cochineal.—Indian Goods.—Muslins.—Shawls.—Indigo.—Sugar.—Trade with China.—Exports of Bokhara.—Silk.—Cotton.—Wool.—Skins.—Duties on Trade.—Abuses in the British Custom House.—General Review.—Russian and British Trade compared.—Opening for British Exports[422]-[444]
CHAP. IV.
NOTICE ON THE TRADE OF PERSIA.
State of Commerce in Persia.—Routes, and their relative Advantages.—Description of Goods.—Hints for improving the Trade.—Singular Instance of commercial Enterprise related[445]-[454]
Observations on Lieutenant Burnes’s Collection of Bactrian and other Coins, by Mr. H. H. Wilson, Sanscrit Professor at Oxford; and Mr. James Prinsep, F.R.S., Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal[457]