RUSSIAN EMPIRE IN ASIA. 129 



f he Tchouwashes dwell along the two sides of the Volga, in the 

 governments of Kazan and Orenburg. They never live in towns, but 

 assemble in small villages of huts, and choose the forests for their 

 habitations. They are very fond of hunting, and procure for that pur- 

 pose screw-barrel muskets, which they prefer to the bow. One of 

 their marriage-ceremonies is, that on the wedding night the bride is 

 obliged to pull off her husband's boots. The husband exercises a 

 lordly authority over the wife, and she is obliged to obey all his com- 

 mands without reply. 



The Votiaks, who are a Finnish race, chiefly inhabit the govern- 

 ment of Kazan. Some of the Votiaks are Christians, but great part of 

 them are heathens and idolaters, though even these believe the doc- 

 trine of a future siate of rewards and punishments. 



The Ostiaks, who are likewise a Finnish race, are one of the most 

 numerous nations of Siberia. Before they were in subjection to Rus- 

 sia, they were governed by princes of their own nation, and their de- 

 scendants are still reputed noble. These people divide themselves 

 into different stocks or tribes, and they choose their chiefs from the 

 progeny of their ancient rulers. These maintain peace and good or- 

 der, and superintend the payment of the taxes. They are entirely un- 

 acquainted with the use of letters, and are extremely ignorant. It is 

 even said that they cannot reckon farther than ten. 



The Vogels are rather below the middle stature. Their principal oc- 

 cupation is the chase, in which they discover much eagerness and ad- 

 dress ; using indiscriminately fire-arms, the bow, and the spear. 

 They are also skilful in contriving traps, snares, and gins, for various 

 kinds of game. 



The Kalmucs are a courageous tribe, and numerous ; for the most 

 part raw-boned and stout. Their visage is so flat, that the skull of a 

 Kalmuc may be easily known from others. They have thick lips, a 

 small nose, and a short chin, the complexion a reddish and yellowish, 

 brown. Their clothing is oriental, and their heads are exactly Chi- 

 nese. Some of their women wear a large golden ring in their nostrils. 

 Their principal food is animals, tame and wild : and even their chiefs 

 will feed upon cattle; that have died of distemper or age, and though 

 -.he flesh be putrid ; so that in every horde the flesh-market has the 

 appearance of a lay-stall of carrion : they eat likewise the roots and 

 plants of their deserts. They are great eaters, but can endure want 

 for a long time without complaint. Both sexes smoke continually ; 

 during the summer they remain in the northern, and in the winter in. 

 the southern deserts. They sleep upon felt or carpeting, and cover 

 themstlvcs with the same. 



The Tun^suhns, who are of the race of the Manchews, form one 

 of the most numerous nations of Siberia. They are of a middle sta- 

 ture, well made, and of a good mien. Their sight and hearing are of 

 a degree of acuteness and delicacy that is almost incredible ; but their 

 organs of smelling and feeling are considerably more blunt than ours. 

 They are acquainted with almost every tree and stone within the cir- 

 cuit of their usual perambulation : and they can even describe a course 

 of some hundred miles by the configuration of the trees and stones 

 they meet with, and can enable others to make the same route by 

 such descriptions They also discover the tracks of the game by 

 the compression of the grass or moss. They learn foreign languages 

 Vol. II. S 



