266 



C A L M U C K S. 



^Calmuck*. to Soongaria. * These different branches, however, 

 J since their expulsion from their ancient habitations, 

 have become so incorporated with one another, and 

 are so assimilated in manners and customs, that most 

 of them are ignorant of their particular origin. The 

 Calmucks, according to Mr Tooke, are divided', into 

 three ranks; the nobility, who are called white-bones ; 

 the common people, who pay tribute, and are termed 

 black-bones ; and the clergy. The noble ladies 

 arc also called white flesh, and the common women 

 black flesh ; but pedigrees are reckoned only by the 

 bones. The tribute is about the tenth part of their 

 cattle and other property. In the time of war, upon 

 the first summons, every man must appear on horse- 

 back before the prince, who dismisses such as are 

 unfit for service. All the subjects belonging to one 

 prince are termed, an olusg, and are divided into 

 imaks, each containing from 150 to 300 families, 

 and commanded by a saissan or noble. But though 

 each oluss has its petty prince, or taish, yet they all 

 acknowledge more or less the sovereignty of the Con- 

 taish, or Great Chan of the Calmucks, whose autho- 

 rity is considered as a right perfectly established and 

 sacred, but whose interference is only admitted in 

 affairs of general importance. 



The Calmucks are distinguished from the other na- 

 tions of Asia, by their peculiar habits and appear- 

 ance. They are, in general, of a middle size, ath- 

 letic, and well made ; and the only defect which is 

 common among them, is their having the thighs and 

 legs somewhat bent. Their countenance is at first 

 extremely forbidding ; a large head, round face, dark 

 olive complexion, high and prominent cheek bones, 

 small sparkling black eyes, widely separated from 

 each other, a flat broad nose, scarcely rising above 

 the level of the face, and turned up, exposing to 

 view two immense nostrils, thick and fleshy lips, ex- 



ceedingly white teeth, a short chin, a thin and scanty Calmuck* 

 beard, and black coarse hair, tied up in a long queu ' 

 behind, are the characteristic features of a Calmuck. 

 Frightful as this picture may appear to us, it is those 

 who poseess these characters in the highest degree, 

 that are regarded among them as the most beautiful. 

 Many of the women, however, have rather agreeable 

 features, and very delicate complexions, which are 

 set off by the fine black of their hair ; and some of 

 the higher classes among them would even be consi- 

 dered as beauties by Europeans. The dress of the 

 men consists chiefly of a shirt and drawers, made of 

 cotton,, or sometimes of sheep-skin; a small round 

 bonnet trimmed with fur, and ornamented with a 

 tuft of silk, or horse hair of a red colour, and im- 

 mensely large boots. They have also a kind of doub- 

 let made of sheep-skin, and without sleeves, which, 

 in the northern provinces, they wear over the shirt. 

 In summer many of them go entirely naked, except 

 a cloth bound round their waist. A cotton shirt is 

 the only dress of the women during the summer ; 

 and, in winter, a long cloak of sheep-skin, and a 

 bonnet the same as that of their husbands. They 

 wear in their ears shells and large mock pearls, of a 

 very irregular shape. The married women have their 

 hair braided, which falls over their shoulders on each 

 side of the face, and fastened at the end with bits of 

 lead or tin, while a virgin has only a single braid 

 hanging down the middle of her back. When equip- 

 ped for war, however, many of the Calmucks wear a 

 helmet of steel, with a gilded crest, from which 

 hangs a net-work of iron rings as low as the eye- 

 brows in front, and falling behind over the neck and 

 shoulders. Their bodies are protected by a coat of 

 mail, formed of iron or steel rings netted together, 

 which adapts itself to the shape, and yields readily 

 to all the positions of the body. These are manu- 



* Among the specimens of Calmuck poetry which Mr Tooke has published in his valuable work on the Russian Empire, is 

 an elegy written upon the occasion of their departure from the Volga, which we present to the curiosity of our readers : 



" The waters of the vast ocean, 



When it has raged with all its fury, becalms itself again ; 



This is the course of the world; and likewise still to forget.. 



Ye white herds, with the marks of Schaebiner ! 



Thou prince Schereng, in the van as conductor, 



Riding on thy noble reddish bay horse ; 



The Prince Zebek following with his numerous troop, 



Ah ! Ubaschakhan, conduct as now the Torgots ! 



There over rocks, over stones, and rough places, 



The herds drag themselves along, and become lean, 



By flying over the land all covered with snow and frost. 



Ah ! how the droves trot over the snow ! 



Now you are got thither, and coine to your resting place. 



Why was there any quarrel between lliec and the white Chan ? -j- 

 Ye otherwise peaceful Torgots between the Yaik and the Volga, 



How far ye now retreat I 



Ah ! the beautiful Volga (Idshel) is abandoned by the Torgots ; 

 Ah ! the lovely stream of Mazak is now likewise become an orphan; 

 Ah ! thy many excellent young princes, 

 Ye are now all marched far away over the Yaik. 

 Ah ! thou well arranged troop of Torgots, 

 Art now perhaps arrived at the Irtish (Ertschis). 

 Ah! helpless lamentable time ! 



Thou excellent host of warriors marching towards Altai, 

 . Ye have no princely women among you ! 

 Fare ye well, ye who bring up the rear of the horde, 

 Princes Aksakal and Kirep !" 



The Czar of Russia. 



