KHOJENT, or KHOJEND  , a town of the province of Syr-darya, in Russian Turkestan, on the left bank of the Syr-darya or Jaxartes, 144 M. by rail S.S.E. from Tashkent, in 400 17' N. and 69° 30' E., and on the direct road from Bokhara to Khokand . Pop . (1900), 31,881 . The Russian quarter lies between the river and the native town . Near the river is the old citadel, on the top of an artificial square mound, about 10o ft. high . The banks of the river are so high as to make its water useless to the town in the absence of pumping gear . Fdrmerly the entire commerce between the khanates of Bokhara and Khokand passed through this town, but since the Russian occupation (1866) much of it has been diverted . Silkworms are reared, and silk and cotton goods are manufactured . A coarse ware is made in imitation of Chinese porcelain . The district immediately around the town is taken up with cotton plantations, fruit gardens and vineyards . The majority of the inhabitants are Tajiks . Khojent has always been a bone of contention between Khokand and Bokhara .

When the

amir of Bokhara assisted Khudayar Khan to regain his throne in 1864, he kept possession of Khojent . In 1866 the town was stormed by the Russians; and during their war with Khokand in 1875 it played an important part .