JOHN BELL AND TARTAR TOMBS. 225 



the horny envelope, is the chief consideration. The 

 paucity of written evidence in regard to the introduction 

 or origin of this art among Eastern peoples, leaves us no 

 room to hope for a satisfactory investigation of the sub- 

 ject. Many nations in Asia, though aware of its exist- 

 ence, yet never require its aid ; while others resort to 

 various contrivances instead. Yet among those who shoe 

 their steeds, the practice appears to have been adopted at 

 a comparatively recent period. 



In the vicinity of Tomsk, on the upper Obi, far 

 towards the high land of Central Asia, there are scattered 

 a great number of tumuli, which for centuries had occa- 

 sionally furnished rich spoils to the Calmuck Tartars, 

 the present tenants of the soil. I find that the veracious 

 old Scotchman, John Bell of Antermony, who travelled 

 over-land from St Petersburg to Peking, in 17 19, with 

 a Russian embassy, mentions these mounds in the cradle 

 land of our race. 'About eight or ten days' journey 

 from Tomsky, in this plain, are found many tombs 

 and burying-places of ancient heroes, who in all pro- 

 bability fell in battle. These tombs are easily dis- 

 tinguished by the mounds of earth and stones raised 

 upon them. When, or by whom, these battles were 

 fought, so far to the northward, is uncertain. I was 

 informed by the Tartars in the Baraba, that Tamer- 

 lane, or Timyr-Ack-Sack, as they call him, had many 

 engagements in that country with the Kalmucks ; whom 

 he in vain endeavoured to conquer. Many persons go 

 from Tomsky, and other parts, every summer, to these 

 graves ; which they dig up, and find, among the ashes of 

 the dead, considerable quantities of gold, silver, brass, and 



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