Scientific Reviews. 193 



differ essentially in their exterior. The first of these nations calls 

 itself Kaszak, and spurns the name of Kirghiz. The tribes have 

 a Mongolian physiognomy, and occupy the immense step that ex- 

 tends from the left bank of the superior Irtyche to the Jaik or Ou- 

 ral, extending to the north to the 55° of latitude. They lead a no- 

 madic life ; and raise tents of felt where they find fresh water and 

 pasture for their flocks. The true Kerghizes, now called Kara Kirg- 

 hiz, and Bourout, occupy, on the contrary, the banks of the Jen- 

 essei, the Jyos, the Abakan, and the Ob in southern Siberia. 



We mentioned the tents of the Kirghiz, but this name is inac- 

 curate ; as is also the term Kibitka, which the Russians make use 

 of. The habitations of the Kalmucks consist of a mobile frame- 

 work, which they transport on their camels, and cover with felt 

 when wanted. This habitation they call Ghir. Those of the Ta- 

 tars are pretty similar, but smaller, and do not take to pieces ; and 

 are transported on their chariots. They call them Karatchou. 



The Mongolians still preserve the respect for the threshold of 

 the tent doors, which led them to threaten travellers, who had the 

 misfortune to touch them even with their feet, with summary pu- 

 nishment. Count Potocki asks, is it from this peculiarity that is 

 derived the term Sublime Porte .'' 



Klaproth says, that the nomadic tribes of Asia, who delight in 

 tea as an exhilarating beverage, make infusions of that character 

 with the leaves of badan, (Saxifraga crassifolia ;) balgou, (Tama- 

 rix Germanica ;) khatatsa, (Potentilla rupestris and fruticosa ;) 

 nakkatsa, (Glycyrrhiza hirsuta ;) and serlik, (Polypodium fra- 

 grans.) They also add the roots of a species of Sanguisorba, called 

 ckudon, and the seeds of tsartsa, (Acer tartaricum.) The Kal- 

 mucks also use the seeds of temehn ckike, (Lapathum acutum,) and 

 the roots of a species of Acorus, called Ouldce ehessoun. 



Tumen, a prince of a nomadic tribe, showed the Count his coat of 

 mail, which had a name, as the sword of Roland was called Durau- 

 dad, and the sword of King Boleslaw, Szeczerbek. The armour of 

 Tumen was called Kistchim-Kilintchik ; and was well known by 

 all the Tatars, and even in the Caucasus. 



Count Potocki sailed from Astrakhan to the Caspian ; but he 

 only found shores covered with reeds and mud, of which Vernet 

 himself could not have made a picture. The islands of the Wolga 

 were covered with the reed-huts of the fishermen, and were more 

 })icturesque. We remember that Dr. Lyall says that the fisheries 

 of the Wolga are the most productive, for the same space, of any 

 part of the world ; and of the immense commerce for salt which this 

 entails, we have spoken in our account of Eversman's journey to the 

 Steps. 



The eflfect of the mirage of magnifying objects in the perspective 

 is very prevalent in the Steps ; and tufts of heath and other shrubs, 

 moving before the wind, appear so large as to frighten horses, which 

 appear to be affected by the same illusion. The Count makes no 

 further remarks on the local peculiarity of this phenomenon than 



VOL. II. 2 b 





