Turkestan
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Turkestan. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
the name of a wide, longitudinal, depressed region in central Asia, which comprises the basins of the Amu-Darya and the Tarim; separated on the S. by the Kuen-Lun from Tibet, by the Karakorum (Mustagh) and Hindu Kush from India and Ladak, the latter chain continuing W. in the mountains of Afghanistan and Persia. In the N. it is separated from Zungaria and the Russian province of Semipalatinsk by the Thian- Shan Mountains. Divided by the Pamir plateau, or "roofs of the world," into two distinct portions, it has a total estimated area of 1,576,400 square miles. Eastern Turkestan shades off into the desert of Gobi, while western Turkestan, sinking to the level of the Kirghis steppes, extends to the shores of the Caspian. These two regions have a very dissimilar character, the latter containing the Iranian khanates, now mainly embraced in Russia, the former from olden times, as now, the arena of Turkish adventurers, who have more or less successfully asserted their dominion against China. Within western Turkestan are comprised the former Russian governmentgeneral of Turkestan, the former khanates of Bokhara and Khiva, the Turcoman steppes, and the hill districts of Karategin on the upper Oxus. The country is nearly synonymous with the basin of the Amu-Darya, and Russia formerly held both the right bank of the river in what used to be Khivan territory, and its delta, green with rice fields. The Amu valley and delta are covered with gray clay, impermeable to water, and therefore invaluable to the inhabitants for the construction of canal banks. The non-irrigated and far greater part of western Turkestan, with the exception of a few table-lands, is covered with black or yellow sands, and the only land fit for cultivation, in addition to the oases along the river, are the slopes of the hills. Khiva is the principal of the oases, and the Amu-Darya, at its greatest height in July, overflows the desert in the direction of the Caspian for 50 miles. The climate is one of extremes, and the heat of autumn is aggravated by a wind laden with fine dust which is almost suffocating, and darkens the air for a week at a time. Gold is found in the Obi district, and in the Karatan Mountains are extensive coal deposits, besides valuable ores. Wheat and clover are the winter crops; all other cereals, such as maize, millet, barley, rice and peas, are sown in April and gathered in August. Grapes are cheaper than potatoes and yield a good wine. Bokhara cotton is of excellent quality. Tobacco and silk are also largely produced; some tobacco seed from Maryland is succeeding admirably. The chief races are Usbegs, who are purely Turkish; Tajiks, the Iranian and trading people; the predatory Turcomans, Turks with an Iranian infusion; and the nomad Kirghis and Kara-Kalpacks. The Russian government of Turkestan was formed in 1867; it was divided into the provinces of Syr-Darya, Ferghana, and Samarkand; and had an area of 257,134 square miles, and pop. about 3,000,000. The prevalent language is akin to Turkish. Eastern Turkestan is called Nan-ly by the Chinese, Altai-shar ("six towns") by adjoining Mohammedans, and litishar ("seven towns") by its Moslem rulers. It may be considered as identical with Kashgar. Till 1853, eastern Turkestan was a Chinese province, but that year witnessed a massacre by the natives of the Chinese who rejected Islam, and subsequently it was ruled by its despot liberator, Yakoob Beg, till his death in 1877. He was succeeded by his son, but the Chinese Government recovered its lost territory in 1879.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
toor-kes-tan', a large region in Central Asia, reaching from Tibet on the east to the Caspian Sea on the west. Western Turkestan belongs to Russia. It includes Khiva, Bokhara, and other states. The population is about 5,000,000. The capital is Tashkent. Through the construction of the Trans-Caspian Railway, it has been made accessible by way of Russia. Caravan transportation has, in part, been supplanted by the railroad. Wheat, rice, melons, grapes, fruits, and cotton, as well as productions of the herd, are exported in considerable quantities. Eastern Turkestan, lying between Tibet and western Mongolia, belongs to China. It has an area of half a million square miles and a population somewhat in excess of a million. It is an elevated desert plateau,--a western extension of the desert of Gobi. Oases and irrigated tracts along the rivers produce cotton, tobacco, and hemp. The oriental rugs of this section are celebrated for their beauty and durability. The soft, glossy black, curly fur known as Persian lamb comes from the flocks of the Turkestan shepherd. At six months of age the skin of a lamb is worth from two to ten dollars. Kashgar is the capital. The main eastern and western caravan route of central Asia passes through Turkestan. Unlike the people of Tibet and Mongolia, the people are Mohammedans of Turkish race and speech. As the people have no natural affiliations with the Chinese either in speech or religion, it is only a matter of time until they pass under the control of some western power, England, Russia, Persia, or Turkey.