Andkhoi
ANDKHUI ― Lat. 36° 54ʼ, Long. 35° 23ʼ, Elev.
A town in Afghan-Turkistan, 100 miles west of Balkh,
18 miles north-west of Shibrghan, 60 miles north-north-east of Maemana. It
contains about 2,000 houses which form the city, and about 3,000 tents, which
are either in its environs or scattered over the oasis in the desert. The
number of inhabitants is estimated at 15,000. They are, says Vambery,
principally Turkmans of the tribe Alieli intermixed with Uzbaks and a few
Tajaks. Ferrier, however, says three-fourths of the population are of the
Persian tribe of Afshars, and in this Burnes agrees with him, and says that
they were established there by Shah Abbas. The remaining fourth are Uzbaks.
Andkhui is situated on a stream, which, flowing north from the mountains,
passes Maemana, and is lost in the desert before it reaches the Oxus. In
summer, a stranger finds the water of this stream, to the execrable taste of
which the inhabitants are accustomed, quite undrinkable, and though it
generates no worms like that of Bokhara, it is said to produce many other evil
consequences. The climate, too, is in bad repute, a Persia verse saying of it ―
“Andkhui has bitter salt water, scorching sand, venomous flies, and even
scorpions. Vomit it out, for it is the picture of a real hell.”
Vambery says it is astonishing what a quantity of fruit,
corn, and rice is raised in this desert-like neighbourhood. It is said to have
been formerly more flourishing, and to have had a population of 50,000. The
inhabitants used to carry on and important trade with Persia in the fine black
sheepskins known to us as Astrakhan wool, and it even seriously rivalled
Bokhara, where this article is produced in first-rate quality. The camels of
Andkhui are the most in request throughout Turkistan, particularly a king
called Ver, distinguished by abundant hair streaming down the neck and breast,
a slim, slender figure, and extraordinary strength. These have become scarce,
as many of the inhabitants have either emigrated or perished.
Andkhui is one of the stations of custom in
Afghan-Turkistan. There seems to be no fixed scale of duty, which is levied
pretty much according to the pleasure or word of the Khan. Leech says the
Andkhuis were formerly Shiahs, but are now Sunis, and Vambery testifies to the
laxness of their religious feeling. Everyone here does as he thinks fit, and
even the most atrocious crime can be compounded for a present, and consequently
they look on Bokhara as a model of justice, piety and earthly grandeur. It was
at Andkhui that Mr. Moorcroft died. He had gone there to effect some purchases
of horses, but was attacked with fever and died.
Formerly, Andkhui formed a separate khanate, but lying
on the road to Herat and Bokhara, it is more exposed than the other khanates of
Maemana and Shibrghan. Up to 1840 it is said to have been tolerably
flourishing; it was then subject to Bokhara, and was compelled to oppose the
victorious march upon the Oxus of Yar Mahamad of Herat who besieged it for four
months, and at last took it by storm. The city was then plundered and
destroyed, and all who could not fly were massacred. A strong Afghan garrison
was left in it, but on the death of Yar Mahamad in 1853, Andkhui again became
independent. However early in 1855, it submitted to Mahamad Afzal Khan,
governor of Balkh.
In 1856, the inhabitant joined in the rebellion of
Hakim Khan, ex-chief of Shibrghan, but he being defeated they again tendered
their submission to the Afghans. Subsequently, after the retreat of the
Persians from Herat in 1857, Ghazanfir Khan, the ex-chief of Andkhui, again
joined Hakim Khan of Shibrghan and defeated Vali Mahamad Khan at Shibrghan. In
1859, Ghazanfir Khan went to Takhtapul and again tendered his submission and
received a dress of honor. Shortly after this the Mir of Maemana invited the
chief of Andkhui to join him in an attack on the Afghans, but Ghazanfir
refusing, was himself attacked by the Mir and suffered considerable damage.
From this time Andkhui remained under Afghan rule, Ghazanfir being now settled
as governor by Sher Ali Khan.
The force usually maintained at Andkhui is 1,800 horse
and 600 foot, which in case of need can be trebled in 24 hours. (Vambery―Ferrier―Burnes―Wheeler).
Lieutenant-Colonel C.M. MacGregor, Central Asia Part II: A Contribution
Towards the Better Knowledge of the Topography, Ethnology, Resources, & History
of Afghanistan. ― Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing,
1871, pp. 175―176.
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