RUSSIA'S FAVOURITE FEUDATORY.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXI, Issue 50, 27 June 1905, Page 7

RUSSIA'S FAVOURITE FEUDATORY.

Tlie Emir of Bokhara is tbe favouritfl in Russia amongst all the Czar's Asiatic feudatories. That is largely because the Emir can see as far. through a stone "wall as anybody; when lie knows his master's will, he does it, and there is never* any difficulty with him. It is told that the Finance Minister, de Witte, proposed gome time ago to set up Custom Houses in Bokhara, and was beginning a long explanation of the advantage of the innovation, when the Emir said : 'Is this being done with the knowledge and consent of the Czar ?' ' Certainly.' • Then his Majesty's will be doiio.' A generation ago Bokhara was regarded as the ultima thule of barbarism. ISTow, the Emir seems to have some extremely civilised habits. When ia visits Russia ha e;oes shopping upon a wholesale scale. He is said to know to a fathing the cost of evory quality of silk, . calico, chintz, and all textile stuffs generally, and he will haggle an hour over a kopeck. In his sovereign capacity he brings home his purchase duty free. Then he Belle them at a profit to his merchants.