FAMILY AND SOCIAL LIFE AMONG THE KIRGHIZ. 483 



language, and worship the same God according to the precepts of 

 the same prophet. He speaks thus, solely because the Kirghiz, in 

 matters of religion, cling less slavishly to words, and think less 

 narrowly than he does. His words simply illustrate the old and 

 ever new story; the offence which the poet's words express is con- 

 stantly repeated among every people, the pious lie, which no sect 

 has shrunk from uttering, to lower the credit of those who think 

 diflFerently from themselves. 



But the traveller who sojourns among the Kirghiz, the stranger 

 who seeks and receives hospitality under the light roof of their 

 yurt, the scholar who endeavours to investigate their manners and 

 customs, the official who lives among them as guardian of the law, 

 or as representative of the State; in a word, everyone who has 

 much intercourse with them, and is unprejudiced, gives an account 

 of them widely different from that of the Tartar poet. 



There was a time when the Kirghiz in general justified their 

 name, but this time has long gone by, at least as far as most 

 branches of the different hordes are concerned. The sentiments, 

 the adventurous expeditions, and brigand exploits of their fathers 

 may awaken an echo in the breast of every Kirghiz; but, on the 

 whole, these horsemen of the steppe have submitted to the laws of 

 their present rulers, live at peace among themselves, as well as with 

 their neighbours, respect the rights of property, and do not rob and 

 steal oftener or more than other people, but rather more rarely and 

 less. Under Russian dominion the Kirghiz of to-day live in such 

 satisfactory circumstances, that their fellow-tribesmen beyond the 

 boundaries look with envy on the Russian subjects. Under the 

 protection of their government they enjoy quietness and peace, 

 security of property, and religious freedom; they are almost entirely 

 exempt from military service, and are taxed in a manner which 

 must be acknowledged as reasonable in every respect; they have 

 the right of choosing their own district governors, and many other 

 privileges to the enjoyment of which the Russians themselves have 

 not as yet attained. Unfortunately, these governors are not so 

 reasonable as the government, and they hamper, oppress, and over- 

 reach the Kirghiz whenever and in whatever way they can. But, 



