i8 4 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



AN ETHNOLOGIC STUDY OF THE YURUKS. 



By ALCIDE T. M. D'ANDRIA. 



THE Yuruks are nomadic tribes whose existence is a phenom- 

 enon difficult to understand and to explain. Ethnologists 

 consider them as direct descendants of the Turkomans, whose dis- 

 tinctive features they have preserved ; while those properly called 

 Turks, though descendants of the Turkomans, have mingled with 

 Aryan and Semitic races, and lost their original characteristics. 

 Mr. Riegler states that the Turks, owing to numerous crossings 

 with various foreign races for several centuries, present nowadays 

 important modifications in their type; while the ungovernable 

 Yuruks are proud of their savage origin, and value themselves 

 as superior to the Turks among whom they live. 



The Yuruk has generally a large head, round face, high fore- 

 head, projecting chin, and long though not oblique eyes. His skin 

 is brown, his hair dark or auburn ; he has a very strong osse- 

 ous frame, and is of medium height. Such is the physical descrip- 

 tion of the Yuruks. 



As for the etymology of their name, it is entirely Persian, and 

 is derived from the verb yurumek, which means to walk. In 

 some provinces of Asia Minor they are called Gueutchebe. This 

 word has the same meaning as yurumek, and is derived from the 

 verb gueutchmek, which may be rendered in English by to 

 change lodging. The literal meanings of their names show suffi- 

 ciently the most striking side of their nature — they are nomadic. 

 Their tribes are scattered over the Asiatic peninsula. Some eth- 

 nologists place their number at three hundred thousand, and M. 

 Elise'e Reclus reckons as many as a hundred different tribes. Each 

 tribe appoints a chief called a sheik. His authority is absolute, 

 and he fills the office of a judge to settle their quarrels. 



The chief occupation of the Yuruks is the breeding of cattle. 

 In winter they set their tents near their barns ; but when spring 

 approaches they fold them and remove to lands more favorable 

 for the welfare of their animals. Through the warm months of 

 the summer they live in the open air. If they happen to be in the 

 vicinity of a forest, they apply themselves to wood-felling, and 

 they dispose of the product of their labor in the neighboring cities 

 or villages. 



Their wives and daughters are very skillful in weaving carpets, 

 particularly one kind known as kilim. Each tribe manufac- 

 tures carpets having the same design and size ; each family trans- 

 mits to the children the design it possesses, and the young girls 

 learn easily the art of weaving without the help of a pattern. 



It is unnecessary to say that nomadic life is dear to them, as 



