126 Of the Checks tv Population Bk. i. 



sand fatigues and dangers necessarily attendant 

 on such a life, than apply themselves seriously to 

 agriculture.* 



The mode of life among the other tribes of 

 Mahometan Tartars presents the same uniform 

 picture, which it would be tiresome to repeat, 

 and for which therefore I refer the reader to the 

 Genealogical History of the Tartars and its valu- 

 able notes. The conduct of the author of this 

 history himself, a Chan of Chowarasm, affords a 

 curious example of the savage manner in which 

 the wars of policy, of revenge, or plunder, are 

 carried on in these countries. His invasions of 

 Great Bucharia were frequent; and, each expe- 

 dition was signalized by the ravage of provinces 

 and the utter ruin and destruction of towns and 

 villages. When at any time the number of his 

 prisoners impeded his motions, he made no scruple 

 to kill them on the spot. Wishing to reduce the 

 power of the Turkmans who were tributary to 

 him, he invited all the principal people to a so- 

 lemn feast, and had them massacred to the num- 

 ber of two thousand. He burnt and destroyed 

 their villages with the most unsparing cruelty, 

 and committed such devastations that the effect 

 of them returned on their authors, and the army 

 of the victors suffered severely from dearth.']" 



The Mahometan Tartars in general hate trade, 

 and make it their business to spoil all the mer- 



* Geneal. Hist. Tart. vol. ii. p. 573, et seq. 

 t Id. vol. i. cb. xii. 



