ABMU TURKESTAN AND TARTARY

[s. 764] : These are terms which have been loosely applied to all that part of Central Asia which lies east of the Casgian Sea, south of Siberia, west of Manchuria or hin a, and north of Tibet, India, Afghanistan, and Persia. The name Tartary is a barbarism which is gradually falling into disuse as the formerly unknown plateaus and steppes of Central Asia are being more thoroughly explored, but the term Turkestan can still be retained as applying to that part of Central Asia which includes three divisions: (1) West Turkestan, (2) East Turkestan, and (3) Jungaria. West Turkestan includes in its territory the highlands of Thian Shan, the plains of the Balkash, and the lowlands between the Aral and the Caspian Seas. It comprises Ru ian Turkestan, the provinces of Sam arc and, Fergana, Semirechensk, Syr-Daria, Khiva, Bokhara, and Kokhand; the Chinese oasis of Kulja, and some parts of Afghan Turkestan. It includes an area of about 1,600,000 square miles, with a population estimated at 8,500,000, of which 793,032 square miles are in the Ru ian provinces or dependencies, having a population of over 3,500,000. The physical features of this large area vary greatly from mountain peaks of perpetual snow to deep gorges and valleys, with every variety of climate and vegetation. Prairies and lowlands alternate with deserts, over which the dry winds, at times scorching hot and then again icy cold, blow sand or snow, and blight — vegetation. The population of this territory very mixed. Aryans and Mongols are both found, the former principally in the cities, while all is 746 the latter are wandering tribes. To the Turanian group belong the Turcomans, Kirghiz, Uzbegs, and Sarts. The Mongol i ans include the Kalmucks and Torgoutes. To the Aryan race belong the Tajiks, who are Sunnite Mohammedans, Persians, British Indians, and Ru ians. The principal cities are Kokhand, Marghilan, Tashkend, Khojend, Bokhara, and Khiva. The two latter have each from 30,000 to 100,000 inhabitants. East Turkestan includes that large depre ion in the plateau of Eastern Asia which lies between Western Turkestan and those parts of Asia which have received distinctive names, and whose boundaries have been defined. Its boundary on the northwest is the Thian Shan range; on the southwest and south the Kuenlun mountains; on the southeast to Lake Lob-nor, the Altyn-Dagh, and on the northeast the mountains which run east-northeast from the Thian Shan range. It includes a territory of about 465,000 square miles, with a population of 1,000,000, of which 431,800 square miles, with a population of 580,000, is part of the Chinese Empire. The climate is severe; there is no great fertility of the soil, and consequently the whole district is very sparsely populated. The few inhabitants are representatives of both the Aryan and Turanian groups of the human race. The Mongol element predominates toward the northeast. Turkish mixed with Chinese is the prevailing tongue. Yark and and Kashgar, in Chinese Turkestan, are the chief towns, and here the Swedish Society {Svenska Mi ionsforbundet) has stations. Tho the first representatives of the Swedish Society came in 1891, work was not regularly organized until 1894. The Bible has been translated into the Kashgarian language, medical work has begun, and the good seed is bringing forth fruit. Jungaria or Songaria lies to the north of East Turkestan, and is a deep valley leading from the lowlands to the central plateau. It includes 147,950 square miles, with a population of 600,000, and is a dependency of the Chinese Empire. There are no mi ionary societies at work in West Turkestan. The only Protestant work that is carried on is that by the BFBS. The Scriptures in whole or in part have been translated into several local dialects of Turkish which are \’ery nearly alike but have different names on the Bible Society lists. ch142.xhtml t 764