Travels in Central Asia Part 25

[Footnote 110: In Constantinople the Nakib-ul-Eshref, the chief of the Seds, is in rank below the Sheikh-ul-Islam. ]

(4) Bi, not to be confounded with Bey, with which it has only a similar verbal meaning. The Bi is, in the battle, always at the right hand of the Khan.

(5) Atalik, a sort of councillor of state, who can only be ozbegs, and whose number the Khan can fix.

(6) Kushbeghi. [Footnote 111]

[Footnote 111: Vizir, or first Court Minister of the Khan: with him begins the 'corps' of ministers properly so called, holding their place at the will of the ruler.]

(7) Mehter, a sort of officer who has the charge of the internal affairs of the court and country. The Mehter must always be from the Sart (ancient Persian population of Khiva).

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(8) Yasaulbas.h.i.+, two in number, princ.i.p.al guards, whose functions are those of introduction at the Arz (public audience). The Divan, a sort of secretary, at the same time accountant, is of the same rank.

(9) Mehrem, also two in number, having merely the office of chamberlains and confidants, yet possessing great influence with the Khan and his Government.

(10) Minbas.h.i.+, commander of 1,000 hors.e.m.e.n. [Footnote 112]

[Footnote 112: The collective military forces of the Khan of Khiva were computed, I was told, at 20,000 men, but this number can be doubled in the time of peril.]

(11) Yuzbas.h.i.+, commander of 100 hors.e.m.e.n.

(12) Onbas.h.i.+, commander of 10 hors.e.m.e.n.

These twelve divisions form the cla.s.s of officials, properly so called, and are styled Sipahi. They are also divided as follows: some whom the Khan cannot remove from office, some who have a fixed stipend, and the rest who are only in active service in time of war.

The high officials are rewarded with lands, and the regular troops receive from the Khan horses and arms, and are exempt from all taxes and imposts.

Thus far of the secular officers.

The Ulema or priests, of whom the Nakib is the chief, are subdivided as follows:--

(1) Kazi Kelan, superior judge and chief of jurisdiction throughout the Khanat.

(2) Kazi Ordu, who attends the Khan as superior judge in his campaigns.

(3) Alem, the chief of the five Muftis.

(4) Reis, who is inspector of the schools, and exercises a surveillance over the administration of the laws respecting religion.

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(5) Mufti, of whom there is one in every considerable city.

(6) Akhond, professor or elementary teacher.

The first three belong to the higher rank of officials, and on entering upon their functions, are richly provided for by the Khan.

The three others draw their stipends from the Vakf (pious foundations) paid to them in money and produce; but it is, besides, the usage for the Khan to make them certain presents every year, at the festivals of the Kurban and the Noruz. The Ulemas of Khiva do not stand in as high repute for learning as those of Bokhara, but they are far from being so presumptuous and arrogant as the latter; and many are animated by a sincere zeal to improve their countrymen as far as they can, and to soften the rude habits contracted by constant wars.

_Taxes_.

In Khiva these are of two kinds:--

(_a_) Salgit, corresponding with our land-tax. For every piece of ground capable of cultivation, measuring ten Tanab (a Tanab contains sixty square ells), the Khan receives a tax of eighteen Tenghe (about ten s.h.i.+llings.) From this the following are exempt: the warriors (Noker or Atli), the Ulemas, and Khodja (descendants from the Prophet).

(_b_) Zekiat (customs), in accordance with which imported wares pay 2-1/2 per cent, on their value, whereas for oxen, camels, and horses [Footnote 113] a Tenghe per head, and for sheep half a Tenghe per head, were payable yearly.

[Footnote 113: Only those, however, are obliged to pay who have more than ten, which const.i.tute a herd.]

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The collection of the Salgit is left to the Kushbeghi and Mehter, who make circuits for the purpose every year through the princ.i.p.al districts, and hold the Yasholu [Footnote 114] responsible for the collection in the particular departments.

[Footnote 114: 'The great of age,' as the grey-beards are denominated in Khiva.]

The collection of the Zekiat is controlled by a favourite Mehrem of the Khan, who visits, attended by a secretary, the tribes of nomads; and, as it is impossible to count the cattle, he every year taxes each tribe at a rate fixed after negotiation with his Yasholu. Of course, in this operation, the princ.i.p.al profit finds its way into the sack of the Mehter; and the Khan last year was made to believe that the Karakalpak had only 6,000 oxen, and the Yomuts and Tchaudors only 3,000 sheep taxed last year, which was, as I heard, only a third of the truth.

_Justice_.

This is administered in the mosques, and the private dwellings of the Kazis and Muftis, on whom the jurisdiction devolves. But every individual may prefer his complaint before the governor of the city or the province, who then makes his decision after Urf (i. e., as it seems to him right). Each governor, and even the Khan himself, must every day hold a public audience of at least four hours' duration, a duty the neglect of which illness can alone excuse; and, as no one can be excluded, the ruler is often forced to listen to and settle even the pettiest family differences amongst his subjects. I have been told that the Khan finds it fine sport to witness the quarrels of married couples, {339} maddened with anger which he himself takes care to foment. The father of the country is obliged to hold his sides for laughter to see, sometimes, man and wife thras.h.i.+ng each other around the hall, and finally falling wrestling in the dust.

C. KHIVA, THE KHANAT.

The Khanat of Khiva, known in history under the name of Kharezm, [Footnote 115] and called also in adjoining countries urgendj, is surrounded on all sides by deserts; its extreme frontiers to the south-east are formed by the city of Fitnek, to the north-west by Kungrat and Kohne urgendj, to the south by Medemin and Koktcheg.

Without attempting to give the superficial measurement of the land occupied by fixed settlers, or ascertain precisely the number of the inhabitants, let me rather content myself by furnis.h.i.+ng as complete a description as circ.u.mstances admit of the topography of the Khanat, and leave the geographer, if so disposed, to apply himself to the arithmetical calculation.

[Footnote 115: Kharezm is a Persian word signifying warlike, rejoicing in war.]

But we may with less hesitation enlarge upon the extraordinary fruitfulness of the soil, to be ascribed, not so much to appropriate modes of cultivation, as to the excellent irrigation, and the fertilising waters of the Oxus.

_Ca.n.a.ls_.

These in Khiva are of two sorts--(_a_) Arna, those formed by the river itself, which have from time to time been merely widened and deepened by the {340} inhabitants; (_b_) Yap, ca.n.a.ls dug to a width of one or two fathoms, for the most part fed from the Arna. With these the whole of the land that is under cultivation is covered, as with a net.

Amongst the Arna deserve particular mention--

1. Hazreti Pehlivan Arnasi, which, breaks in between Fitnek and Hezaresp, pa.s.ses before Khiva, and is lost in the sand after having flowed through Zey and the district of the Yomuts.

2. Gazavat Arnasi forms a break between Khanka and Yenghi urgendj, pa.s.ses also to the west before Gazavat, and loses itself in the territory of the Yomuts.

3. Shahbad Arnasi has its beginning above Yenghi urgendj, pa.s.ses by Shabad Tash-haus and Yillali, and disappears at Koktcheg.

4. Yarmish Arnasi breaks in opposite Shahbaz Veli, and flows through the districts between Kiat Kungrat and Yenghi urgendj.