THE MONGOL-TARTAR FAMILY. 39 



2. The Mongols proper embrace several subordinate divisions, of vs^hich the 

 Calmucks^ w^ho are the most prominent, occupy the western section of the great 

 Mongol region. "They are characterised by obliquity of the eyes, which are 

 depressed towards the nose, and by the rounded internal angle of the eyelids ; by 

 their black and scarcely curved eyebrows ; by the nose, which is altogether small 

 and flat, being particularly broad towards the forehead ; by high cheek-bones, and 

 round head and face. A black-brown iris, large and thick lips, short chin, white 

 teeth, remaining firm and sound even in advanced age, and large ears standing off 

 from the head, are universal. They are of middling size, and we see very few 

 tall people amongst them : the women are particularly small, and very delicately 

 formed."* They have a good understanding and quick comprehension ; are lively 

 and tractable, yet extremely improvident, and thievish, but not disposed to cruelty 

 even in their predatory excursions. They are divided into four principal tribes, 

 the Koschots, Derbets, Soongars and Torgots, which for a long time constituted an 

 independent and powerful nation; but their hordes, which are now subject to 

 Russia, at present inhabit the deserts between the rivers Don and Volga, and the 

 Ural river from Igris to the Caspian sea. They are part idolaters, part Christians, 

 and their religious rites are characterised by superstition and inconstancy. 



The Burats. In the middle of the past century the Burats inhabited the 

 government of Irkutsk, almost from the Yenisei, along the Mongolian and Chinese 

 borders, to the Angara and Tunguska, and thence to the lake Baikal, which latter 

 place appears to have been their primitive home. In personal appearance the 

 Burats much resemble the Kalmucks, yet they are less inclined to corpulency. 

 " Their flesh seems sodden, and their countenance is pale and yellow. Their 

 bodies have very little solidity and strength. A Russian of the same size weighs 

 much more ; and either in play or earnest, overcomes several Burats with ease."t 

 They are indolent, dishonest, and spiritless, and have scarcely any possessions but 

 their flocks. Allied to the Burats are the Kalkas, who inhabit the country 

 between Siberia and the great desert of Cobi; a superstitious and uncivilised 

 people, who are said to present, in their domestic customs, a humiliating picture 

 of human degradation. 



3. The Tartar Branch. The Tartar hordes were originally derived from 

 Great Tartary, in other words from the vast territory between Siberia and the 

 mountains of India, from the river Oural to Mongolia, one part of which is now 

 comprehended in Soongaria. Yet at this time they have ceased to maintain their 



* Pallas, in Lawrence's Lectures, p. 55Q, f Tooke, Russia, IV , p. 1 32. 



