104 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



theless they can claim one architectural invention as 

 peculiarly their own, that, namely, of building up 

 towers of living men cemented together with mortar. 

 Timur Lenk, or Tamurlane, used to assist the masons 

 with his own hand at this work. What is the greatest 

 bliss in this world ? This question having been once 

 propounded among the sages and chief men, the 

 Khan replied : " It is to vanquish the foe, to outrage 

 his wife before his eyes, to slaughter his children, and 

 then to torture himself to death." The sovereign's 

 opinion exactly coincided with that of the people. 



Such is the character of the race that first perhaps 

 deserved the name of " tamers of horses." 



The Galmucks, a principal branch of the great 

 Mongol stock, are more widely dispersed over the 

 globe than any other, even the Arabs not excepted. 

 Tribes of this people occur over all the countries 

 of Upper Asia, between 38 and 52 north latitude, 

 and from the most northern bend of the Hoang-ho to 

 the banks of the Volga. They are the Hippophagi, 

 or eaters of horseflesh, of Pliny, and the more ancient 

 historians. They have very large settlements in the 

 neighbourhood of Taganrok, and there Dr. Clarke 

 had an opportunity of studying their habits and ap- 

 pearance. Calmuck men and women were continually 

 galloping their horses through the streets of the town, 



