138 Of tlic Checks to Population Bk. i. 



60,000 families. Its fate in this curious migra- 

 tion was what has probably been the fate of 

 many other wandering hordes, who, from scanty 

 pastures or other causes of discontent, have at- 

 tempted to seek for fresh seats. The march 

 took place in the winter, and numbers perished 

 on this painful journey from cold, famine, and 

 misery. A great part were either killed or taken 

 by the Kirghises; and those who reached their 

 place of destination, though received at first 

 kindly by the Chinese, were afterwards treated 

 with extreme severity.* 



. Before this migration, the lower classes of the 

 Kalmucks had lived in great poverty and wretch- 

 edness, and had been reduced habitually to make 

 use of every animal, plant, or root, from which it 

 was possible to extract nourishment.^ They 

 very seldom killed any of their cattle that were 

 in health, except indeed such as were stolen ; 

 and these were devoured immediately, for fear 

 of a discovery. Wounded or worn-out horses, 

 and beasts that had died of any disease except 

 a contagious epidemic, were considered as most 

 desirable food. Some of the poorest Kalmucks 

 would eat the most putrid carrion, and even the 

 dung of their cattle.J A great number of chil- 

 dren perished of course from bad nourishment.^ 



* Tooke's View of the Russ. Emp. vol. ii. b. ii. p. 29, 30, 31. 

 Decouv. Russ. torn. iii. p. 221. 



f Decouv. Russ. torn. iii. p. 275, 276. 

 + Id. p. 272, 273, 274. 

 § Id. p. 324. 



