242 Dr. Blackie on Russian Acquisitions in Manchooria, 



there is access to the oeeau, both north to the sea of Okhotsk, and 

 south through the narrow strait at Cape Lasarew to the gulf of Tartary 

 and the sea of Japan. Lake Kisi, which has ah'eady been named, is 

 about 28 miles long, and nowhere above 450 yards wide. It is con- 

 nected with the Amoor by two broad arms, and is separated from the 

 Bay of Castries, in the Gulf of Tartary, by a mountain ridge ten miles 

 broad, over which there is easy access. On its north bank, near the 

 Amoor, lies the Russian post of Kisi or Mariinsk. 



The population on the banks of the Amoor, as we have already seen, 

 is very unetpally distributed. It is composed of about ten tribes — 

 settled, half-settled, and nomadic. To the first class belong the Man- 

 choos, Nekans, and Dauriaus, the first named being the most important, 

 and the governing race which garrisons the forts and levies the tribute. 

 All three are much alike in external appearance, having round hard 

 visages, flat eyebrows, a dark bronze colour, medium stature, and dark 

 blonde hair, which they twine into a tail. The common people do not 

 shave the head, and their wild native bush resembles a badly built hay- 

 rick, round which the tail is twisted in the vain attempt to keep it in 

 order. Their dress consists of a white shirt of Chinese cut, very wide 

 linen trousers, either pushed into the stockings, or bound round at the 

 knee with a baud, Chinese shoes with turned up toes, or made of hide 

 without any special shape. Besides the shirt, they wear a short upper 

 garment, composed of wild animal or fish skin, bound round the body 

 with a leathern girdle, in which is stuck a small knife, a copper tobacco 

 pipe, apparatus for obtaining fire, and a tobacco pouch. The chief seat 

 of the Manchoos is on the rich plains near the middle of the Amoor, 

 stretching about 100 miles below the confluence of the river Seja. 

 They cultivate the fields, and appear to be in comfortable circumstances. 

 Besides agriculture, they are engaged in cutting wood, for which they 

 have to go to near the Kamara, and in fishing among the islands near 

 the mouth of the Chorolog. 



The Golde, Manguntses, Samagires, and Giljaks, as they are hardly at 

 all acquainted with agriculture, and generally shift their dwellings in 

 winter, may be reckoned half-settled. They dwell all along the Amoor 

 downwards from the mouth of the Ussuri. The Giljaks have spread out 

 on the seaboard, and even into the island of Saghalin. Of these tribes 

 the Golde is the most numerous, and all support themselves by fishing. 

 The winter dwellings consist of a large quadrangular building, with 

 benches along the walls and round the fire-place, which is in the centi-e. 

 In one of these houses is to be found a whole family, from grandfather to 

 grandchild, often amounting to thirty or forty individuals, male and 

 female. Eound the houses, and near the banks of the stream, are 



