AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



gence, I can only say that I found them a good deal 

 inferior to the Kirghiz, who are usually clever and 

 cunning. The Kirghiz being Mohammedans, this 

 difference of religion may have contributed to this 

 result. The Kalmuks are governed by Zaissans, or 

 elected native chiefs (formerly hereditary chiefs of 

 tribes), who are responsible before the Government 

 for the periodical collection of taxes. Each Zaissan 

 rules over several "dutchinas," or communes, each 

 of whom in turn has a demitcha at the head of 

 affairs. The "dutchinas," or communes, have to 

 keep at their own expense a Russian official, or 

 clerk, who acts as secretary, and writes in Russian 

 all the necessary papers for the "dutchina." This 

 clerk gradually takes the whole of the commune into 

 his hands. Being entirely uncontrolled he writes 

 whatever- he chooses, and becomes ipso facto a petty 

 tyrant to the wretched Kalmuks, who live in constant 

 fear of him, and make him presents to avert his 

 wrath. 



The Government official lives at Ongudai, and is 

 called Altaisky Zassedatel. At the time of our 

 visit this important post was held by a Mr. Meyer, 

 who seemed a very energetic gentleman. He 

 accompanied us to the Siberian frontier, and proved 

 most useful in procuring horses for us at Kosh- 



