A wide region in Central Asia, divided by the Pamir plateau into sections:
hich embraces Russian Turkestan (3,342), the Khanates of Khiva (q. v .) and Bokhara ( q. v .), and Afghan Turkestan.
ormerly called Chinese Tartary; unproductive in many parts, and but sparsely populated; produces some gold, and a considerable quantity of silk, besides linens and cottons.