III. Transcaspia, which, as the name indicates, includes the region
east of the Caspian Sea. It contains an area of 383,618 square miles
with a population estimated at 352,000. Like the Kirghiz Steppe, it is
unfit for agriculture, although it contains several oases. It was
formed into a province by Alexander III. in 1881.

IV. Turkestan contains 409,414 square miles with a population of
3,341,000. The valleys of the Oxus and Jaxartes are very fertile, but
the rest of the extensive province is almost a desert. The Oxus or Amu
Daria once formed the boundary of the empires of Cyrus and Alexander.
It was conquered step by step, and after many struggles with the (p. 265)
Turkomans and Kirghiz to whom it originally belonged.

V. The Khanates, so called because they once formed the territory of
the Khans of Khiva and Bokhara. This province embraces 114,320 square
miles with a population of 3,200,000. Both are recent acquisitions. It
was the war with Khiva, in 1872, which first drew the attention of
Europe to Russia's expansion in Central Asia. There had been some
doubts as to the wisdom of permitting Russia to add more territory to
her already enormous domain, but they had been allayed by a circular
note to the powers, issued by Prince Gortchakof, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, on November 21, 1864. He declared that Russia had
been brought into contact with a number of half-savage tribes who
proved a constant menace to the security of the Empire, and that the
only means of maintaining order on the frontier, was to bring them
under submission. This, he said, had been done by the United States,
and was nothing but a measure necessary for self-defense.

This reasoning was self-evident, but in 1873 the press of Great
Britain asked when and where this necessity would cease. Count
Schouvalof was sent to London and in several interviews with Lord
Granville, he stated distinctly and plainly that Russia had no
intention to annex any more territory in Central Asia. He declared[12]
solemnly with regard to Khiva that "not only was it far from the
intention of the emperor to take possession of Khiva, but positive
orders had been prepared to prevent it, and directions given that (p. 266)
the conditions imposed should be such as would not in any way lead to
the prolonged occupation of Khiva."

[Footnote 12: Parliamentary Papers, Central Asia.
1873.]

Notwithstanding this positive declaration,