Ch. vii. amom modern Pastoral Nations. 135 



and even the decrees thus confirmed are continually- 

 violated with impunity.* Though the plunder 

 and capture of persons, of cattle and of merchan- 

 dise, which the Kirgisiens exercise on their neigh- 

 bours the Kazalpacs, the Bucharians, the Persians, 

 the Truchemens, the Kalmucks and the Russians, 

 are prohibited by their laws, yet no person is 

 afraid to avow them. On the contrary, they 

 boast of their successes in this way as of the most 

 honourable enterprises. Sometimes they pass 

 their frontiers alone to seek their fortune, some- 

 times collect in troops under the command of an 

 able chief, and pillage entire caravans. A great 

 number of Kirgisiens, in exercising this rapine, 

 are either killed or taken into slavery; but about 

 this the nation troubles itself very little. When 

 these ravages are committed by private adventu- 

 rers, each retains what he has taken, whether 

 cattle or women. The male slaves and the mer- 

 chandise are sold to the rich, or to foriegn 

 traders.^ 



With these habits, in addition to their national 

 wars, which from the fickle and turbulent disposi- 

 tion of the tribe are extremely frequent, J we may 

 easily conceive that the checks to population from 

 violent causes may be so powerful as nearly to 

 preclude all others. Occasional famines may 

 sometimes attack them in their wars of devasta- 



* Dccouv. Russ. torn. iii. p. 389. 

 + Id. p. 396, 397, 398. 

 I Id. p. 378. 



