TURKESTAN

TURKESTAN, a wide region in Central Asia, divided by the Pamir plateau into sections: (1) WESTERN TURKESTAN, which embraces Russian Turkestan, the KHANATES OF KHIVA and BOKHARA, and Afghan
Turkestan. (2) EASTERN TURKESTAN, formerly called Chinese Tartary; unproductive in many parts, and but sparsely populated; produces some gold, and a considerable quantity of silk, besides linens and cottons.