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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



© Underwood & Underwood 



KIRGHIZ CIIILDRlvN AT PLAY 



There are more than three million members of the Kirghiz family — a Mongolian people 

 inhabiting an area of nearly 3,000,000 square miles, extending from northwest China to the 

 lower Volga River. There are two main branches of the family — Kara, or Black Kirghiz, 

 so called from the color of their tents, and the Kazaks, or riders, from which term the word 



ack is derived. 



