The revenues of the kingdom are levied according to the same standard—the dicta of the Koran. A merchant pays one fortieth as a tax on his goods; a farmer renders one fourth of the harvest of his fields to the King: but the greater part of land in the country has been alienated for the support of the religious men and establishments; and many of these take the higher assessment of three tenths of the crop: nor do the husbandmen complain of this exorbitant impost. In Toorkistan land is valued by the water which it can command; and the individual who distributes that necessary of life into the different aqueducts about the capital holds a high rank in the state. A money-tax is levied on gardens, and orchards, and melon-beds. All the inhabitants of the country, not Mahommedans, pay a capitation tax annually. In time of war, each householder is also taxed. There is a sum of money derived from the customs of Bokhara; but, with this single exception, the whole revenue is raised from the land. The following is an abstract of its amount:—

Tillas.
The seven tomuns of BokharaRametun4,000
Zundunee6,000
Wafkund3,000
Wurdunzye3,000
Kyrabad4,000
Wangazye6,000
Kizhdowun6,000
——31,000
The five tomuns of SamarcandSheeraz6,000
Sohood4,000
Afeenkund6,000
Anhar5,000
Shoudar12,000
——33,000
Districts under SamarcandPunjkund4,000
Oometan2,000
Pan2,000
Ooroogut6,000
Karratippu2,000
——16,000
Meeankal, or Kuta-Koorghan, between Bokhara and SamarcandKatakoorghan12,000
Kutarchee6,000
Punjshumbu5,000
Meetan4,000
Noorator5,000
Engi Koorghan6,000
Chulak5,000
——43,000
KerminaKermina12,000
Zoodeen15,000
——27,000
JizzakJizzak8,000
——8,000
KursheeKurshee12,000
Khozar6,000
Sheerabuel5,000
Sadabad4,000
Chiraghchee5,000
——32,000
Banks of the Oxus, called “Lubab”Narazsee5,000
Kukee4,000
Charjooee8,000
Ootar5,000
——22,000
KarakoolKarakool15,000
——15,000
City of BokharaBokhara50,000
——50,000
Grand total of tillas (or rupees 18 lacs)277,000

From Balkh the crown receives nothing; the revenue is said to have declined with its population, and the scanty returns from it, amounting to 20,000 tillas, are granted to the chief, Eshan Khoju, who protects it. Both Balkh and Jizzak are late acquisitions to the kingdom. As far as an opinion can be formed on such subjects, I am led to believe that the net land revenue of this kingdom amounts to about thirty-six lacs of rupees, or double that which is received into the royal treasury, since about half the land is enjoyed by the church. All the names mentioned in the enumeration of the revenue are market-towns or places, except the five “tomuns” of Samarcand. These are old names. The idea which we have of towns and villages must be received with considerable qualification in Toorkistan. A bazar, or market-place, is sometimes a small village, and the inhabitants, instead of living in it, reside in “robats,” at a distance, visiting it on market-days from a circuit of ten or fifteen miles. The bazars of the country are held on fixed days, with great regularity, as in Europe.

Military force, &c.

The military force of Bokhara is levied from the different districts of the kingdom, and has no discipline. It consists of about 20,000 horse and 4000 infantry, with forty-one pieces of artillery. There are likewise a description of troops, called “eeljaree,” or militia, which are formed of the dependents and servants of the government, and amount to about 50,000 horse, 10,000 of which are from Balkh and the countries south of the Oxus. It might be further increased by levies among the Toorkmuns; but the services of that tribe can only be commanded by the individual who can enforce them. This is no great number, where almost every individual, rich and poor, has a horse of some description. These troops are seldom or ever called upon to serve, and, when embodied, receive no pay. The registered, or “duftur,” troops are paid in grain, and the chiefs have assignments of land. Each soldier receives yearly eight Bokhara maunds of grain, each of which is equal to 256 lbs. English. It consists of wheat, barley, juwaree, and urzun. The infantry receive the same allowances as the cavalry, and, what is singular, they come into field on horseback, and then dismount. They arm with matchlocks, and are called “khusa burdar.” The horsemen have swords; sometimes long knives, and heavy spears, about twenty feet long, with a short blade. These lances are constructed of different pieces of wood (generally of willow), and have an unwieldy appearance; they never break at the joinings. The Uzbeks have few fire-arms, and use them indifferently. An Indian or an Afghan never sets out on a journey but he bristles with arms. The Uzbek, on the other hand, contents himself with a lance, or the knife which he usually wears in his girdle. From what I hear, the Uzbeks are not much to be dreaded as enemies. Spirit of the Uzbeks. Their manner of fighting wants spirit and courage; they vociferate loudly, and the fate of the advanced guard decides the conquest. They are a superior description of irregular cavalry, but poor soldiers. The park of cannon lies neglected in the citadel, for the Uzbeks do not properly appreciate the value of artillery, and the King has only to contend with horse. There are no native artillerymen, and the guns lie separated from their carriages, which, as may be imagined, are by no means efficient. The train could, however, be easily put in order by some of the Russian slaves. All the cannon are brass; three-fourths of them appeared to be small field-pieces, four and six pounders. There are four mortars; the rest are large guns. The powder of the country is serviceable.

Detail of the military force.

The following detail of the military force of the kingdom will afford an insight into the power of the several districts, and serve also to mark the great Uzbek tribes at present existing in the country. The first list is composed of cavalry; I also add the names of their chiefs, here called “Bee,” which is a Turkish word, better known in Europe as Bey.

Tribes.No.Chiefs.District.
Kongrad1,000Moorad BeeKurshee.
Suraee1,000Ashoor Bee.
Yaboo2,000Md. Ameer Bee.
Khitai500Hoosun BeeYargi Koorghan.
Kipchack500Mahmood BeeChuluk.
Surkh Khitai800Aderagood Bee KutKoorghan.
Kara Kilpauk400Thikeem BeeSheeraz.
Kur Khyooz500Shade BeeJizzak.
Dyakhlee600Alum BeePunjenud.
Meeng2,000Kut BeeOoloogut.
Nymun500Kalaitoksa BeeZeodeen.
Julaee400Roostum BeePunjshumbu.
Meetna400Abdoo Jubbar BeeMeetum.
Bahreen500Kobad BeeKaturchee.
Boorkoot500Abdoo Jubber BeeNooratun.
Kulloogh600Abdoo Russool BeeKermina.
Huzara300Abdoo Jubber BeeDitto.
Kutghun300Doulut BeeDitto from Koondooz.
Arabuchee400Good Md. BeeKarakool.
Chunder400Dolmus BeeDitto.
Toorkmuns N. of the Oxus800Eser BeeBanks of the Oxus.
Kalmucks1,000Rhodaee NugBokhara.
Mixed tribes of Bokhara, called “Shagird Peshu”2,000The King.Bokhara.
Mervees1,000Persians.Mad. Suduk BeeDitto.
500Moorad Bee Meer AkhorSamarcand.
Zorabadee500Lootf Ali BegZorabud, near Kurshee.
Grand total19,500

The infantry is levied on a much smaller scale, and entirely composed of Tajiks, or the mercantile class. They are drawn from the districts as follows:—