TARTAR SrORTS. 405 



versts, and commenced galloping their horses back to the 

 tents. In the meantime the spectators formed a ring, 

 into which stepped two stout Khirgises to wrestle. Cast- 

 ing off their outer garments, they threw their leather 

 girdles over each other, and struggled until one was 

 thrown. When this was done another entered the ring 

 and contested the prize with the victor, who remained 

 there until he himself was thrown. One of the wrestlers 

 threw six of his comrades in succession, but was van- 

 quished by the seventh. Then a large kettle was brought 

 out, half filled with boiled groats. Into this kettle General 

 Gens tossed a silver ruble, which the Khirgises attempted 

 to fish out with their teeth. Several added to their stock 

 of small change by their dexterity in this sport, but the 

 greater number besmeared their heads and shoulders in 

 vain. Now came the musicians, a band of men who 

 sang in long-drawn tones, and frightfully distorted their 

 faces. Their singing was execrable, but they were so 

 enraptured with it, that it was almost impossible to stop 

 them. When they had finished, a veiled woman entered 

 the circle, and sang in the same horrid manner. Then 

 came two others who sang a duet. They stood with their 

 faces close together, and were veiled ; but in the course 

 of the duet they raised their veils so that they could see 

 each other, and at the same time give the spectators a 

 side view of their charms, which piece of coquetry was 

 not thrown away. But now the news spread that the 

 horsemen were coming, whereupon the overseers plied 

 their whips, and the crowd gave way. The first prize, a 

 cloak embroidered with gold, was won by a boy. Then 

 commenced the foot-race. The distance from the starting 

 point to the sultan's tent was about a mile ; it was run 



