C A L M U C K S. 



_>67 



fattuivd in l'i-i->i.t, and are reckoned as equal in va- 

 hit- to fifty horses. But a cheaper sort, made of 

 scales of tin, sell for only six or eight horses. T 

 arms are hows and arrows, lances, sabres, and ; 

 nards. Fire-arms are confined to the higher orders, 

 anil arc- kept with great care. Their best bows arc 

 made of the wild goats horn or whalebone, and the 

 common kind of maple, or thin slips of elm or fir 

 fastened together, and bound with a covering of 

 linden or birch bark. 



The Calmucks are of a social and hospitable dispo- 

 sition, faithful to their chi.-fs, exceedingly affable, 

 and eager to oblige. They possess a vivacity and 

 good humour, which never forsakes them, even in 

 their most wretched state ; for a Calrauck is scarcely 

 ever seen dejected by sorrow, and is never subdued 

 by despair. They are, however, slovenly and dirty 

 in the extreme, completely destitute of true courage, 

 and greatly addicted to cheating. " Within the 

 tent," says Dr Clarke, " we found some women, 

 though it was difficult to distinguish the sexes, so 

 horrid and inhuman was their appearance. Two of 

 them, covered with grease, were lousing each other; 

 and it surprised us, that they did not discontinue 

 their work, or even look up as we entered." " The 

 old women," continues this celebrated traveller, 

 " were eating raw horse flesh, tearing it off from 

 large bones, which they held in their hands. O- 

 thers, squatted on the ground, were smoking, with 

 pipes not two inches in length, much after the man- 

 Tier of the Laplanders." But these defects ought 

 in some measure to be forgotten, in the many good 

 qualities which they possess, and which render them 

 so superior to the Mahometan Tartars. Robberies 

 are very rare among them, except against a hostile 

 tribe, and murder is almost unknown. They pay 

 great respect to old age ; and though of a choleric 

 temperament, and exceedingly fierce when irritated, 

 they live more amicably together, than could be ex- 

 pected from their independent and migratory manner 

 of life. If any one receives a present of meat or 

 drink, he divides it faithfully with his companions ; 

 and if a relation has lost his flocks or other substance, 

 by war or accident, he is sure to be most liberal- 

 ly assisted. " A Calmuck, provided with a horse," 

 says Professor Pallas, " with arms and equipage, 

 may ramble from one place to another for three 

 months together, without taking with him either mo- 

 ney or provisions. Wherever he comes, he finds ei- 

 ther distant relations or friends, to whom he is at- 

 tached by the ties of hospitality, from whom he 

 meets with the kindest reception, and is entertained 

 in the best manner their circumstances afford. Per- 

 haps he lodges in the first unknown cottage he finds 

 upon his road ; and scarce has he entered it, but his 

 wants are supplied with the most affectionate cordi- 

 ality. Every stranger, of whatever nation, never 

 fails to be well received by a Calmuck ; and he may 

 depend upon having his effects in the greatest secu- 

 rity, the moment he has put himself under the pro- 

 tection of his host ; for to rob a guest is considered by 

 the Calmucks as the moat abominable of all crimes." 



The tents of the Calmucks, which are their only 

 habitations, and are in general use from the prince 



to the peasant, are all of a circular form, with coni- 

 cal roof, and a hole at the top. They are construct- 

 ed of cane or wood, and cottred with felt, made of 

 camel's hair or wool. Those of their chiefs arc Urge 

 and well furnished, having the floor* covered with 

 mats or Indian carpeti, and their beds hung with 

 rich curtains. An encampment of their principal 

 hordes presents the appearance of a city, with regu- 

 lar streets, sometimes extending a mile in length ; 

 and containing numerous shops, where several of the 

 more refined arts are practised in considerable per- 

 fection. They have artificers in copper, brass, and 

 iron ; sometimes goldsmiths, who make trinkets for 

 their women, idols of gold and silver, and vessels for 

 their altars ; also, persons who are expert at inlaid 

 work, enamelling, &c. " One very remarkable 

 fact," says Dr Clarke, " and which I should hesi- 

 tate in asserting, if I had not found it confirmed by 

 the observations of other travellers, is, that from 

 time immemorial, the Oriental tribes of Calmucks 

 hare possessed the art of making gunpowder. They 

 boil the efflorescence of nitrat of potass in a strong 

 ley of poplar and birch ashes, and leave it to crys- 

 tallize ; after which, they pound the crystals with 

 two parts of sulphur and as much charcoal ; then, 

 wetting the mixture, they place it in a caldron over 

 a charcoal fire, until the powder begins to granulate." 

 Upon the breaking up of an encampment, which, 

 in summer, is generally done every eight or ten days, 

 in order to go in search of fresh pasture, their first 

 care is to dispatch some of their people, to find out 

 a proper situation for the tents of the chan, the 

 lama, and for the huts containing the idols. The 

 tents are then struck, and, being so made as to take 

 to pieces and fold up in a small compass, are packed 

 upon the backs of the camels or oxen. The camel 

 that is loaded with the most precious furniture is de- 

 corated with bells, and marches before, the rest fol- 

 lowing one behind another. On these occasions, the 

 women are dressed in their best clothes; and beguile 

 the tediousness of the journey with merriment and 

 songs. 



As the riches of the Calmucks consist entirely in 

 their flocks, it is from them they draw their whole 

 means of subsistence. They never think of cultiva- 

 ting the ground, though they inhabit many exten- 

 sive tracts of country, equal in climate and fertility 

 to any in the world. Their herds roam at large over 

 the most luxuriant pastures, which, when withered 

 by the droughts of summer, they renew by setting 

 fire to the old grass. Upon these occasions, the 

 flames will sometimes extend nearly 100 leagues; and* 

 in fifteen days, the country is again covered with 

 verdure. 



A wealthy Calmuck possesses several hundreds of 

 cattle, sometimes thousands ; but ten cows, with a 

 bull, and eight mares, with a stallion, are considered 

 a sufficient independence. They have very few ca- 

 mels, as it is rather a delicate animal, and difficult to 

 rear ; and these are confined entirely to the rich and 

 the priests. Their horses are small, but very swift, and 

 are capable of galloping for several hours successive- 

 ly without injury, or of passing a whole day without 

 drinking. They castrate the greater part of their 



Journal det Sav*n* I'oyagcurt, p. 43*. 



