Tashkend
or TASHKENT, the capital of Russian Turkestan; 300 miles N. E. of Samarcand; on a small river which empties itself into the Syr-Daria or Jaxartes. It consists of an ancient walled city and a new European quarter with broad streets bordered by canals and avenues of trees. The Russian citadel lies a little to the S. There are extensive military stores, official buildings, Russian schools of all grades, an observatory and geographical society, Russian and Kirghiz newspapers, and a brisk trade with Russia and other parts of Central Asia. It is connected with the European system of telegraphs, and has manufactures of silk, leather, felt goods, and coarse porcelain. Once capital of a separate khanate, Tashkend was in 1810 conquered by Khokand, and since 1865 has been Russian. Pop. about 272,000.
See TURKESTAN.