ETHNOLOGY OF THE PRESENT DAY. IGQ 



eighteenth to the fiftieth year. They are estimated at about 800,000 

 fighting men ; the whole population, however, at three millions. From the 

 collective body of the Cossack pulks the tallest and finest-looking men are 

 usually formed into Cossack guards. In the war of 1812-14, the Russians 

 had recruited peasants also, who went to war in their peasant dress, and 

 were known as peasant Cossacks. PL 12, Jig. 2, serfs on the Don upon 

 the march. 



The Tartars are slender and of medium height, have an oval head, hand- 

 some regular features, small, sparkling, mostly black eyes, a fine, down- 

 wardly arched nose, small lips, strong white teeth, and dark hair. In 

 their movements thev are active. The men are more livelv than the 

 women, and the latter rouge their faces and dress very untastefully. They 

 are frank, hospitable, and friendly towards strangers, neater, and more 

 orderly than their neighbors, fond of comfort without being lazy, and 

 jealous of their honor. They are of the Mohammedan religion. Reading 

 and writing; are tau2;ht in the schools, and the o;irls are instructed also in 

 sewing and the art of embroidery in gold and silver upon leather. The 

 male dress usually consists of a linen shirt ; a fancy striped, long, close- 

 fittini]; undercoat of half silk stuff; linen or chintz trowsers ; a fancy colored 

 overcoat, somewhat like a dressing-gown, manufactured of cotton or linen 

 stuff, and a handkerchief of similar material that is tied around the waist. 

 Their yellow or green morocco boots have soft soles, and their slippers 

 of the same, or of sheepskin, are without heels. Instead of a turban, the 

 poorer people wear a fur cap. In winter, the sheepskin coat and other articles 

 of the Russian dress are worn. 



Females wear cotton or silk (usually red) chemises, w4th long sleeves hang- 

 ing down over the arms, wide trowsers, leather stockings, and a dress of fancy 

 colored stuff, fastened with a neat clasp. Their finery consists of a string of 

 beads, with coins, small plates of metal, and gilt balls ; or instead of this 

 necklace, a case with amulets or perfumery : bracelets adorned with pearls 

 and stones, and golden ear and finger rings. They blacken their beautiful 

 teeth with a powder of copperas and nutgalls, and paint their nails red. The 

 head-dress varies. Some wrap a handkerchief around the neck and head, in 

 sucb a manner as to leave only the face uncovered ; and many place over it a 

 net, from which long cords hang down behind. PI. 16, Jigs. 4 and 5, a Tartar 

 family. 



A portion of the Tartars have permanent places of abode, and dwell in 

 wooden buildings, with windows of glass or mica (among the poor, of fish skin 

 or oiled paper). The roofs are usually flat. The nomadic Tartars are less 

 neat, and live in small buildings without windows, and with an opening at top 

 instead of a chimney. These tents are not taken apart when a mio-ration 

 occurs, but are removed on carts as they stand, from one spot to an- 

 other. 



The Tartars collectively are a free people. Their princes are called Mm'- 

 ses, their chiefs Baschliks. The Mujtl is their spiritual head ; the higher 

 priests are termed Achunis, the lower, Mollas. Their mosques are known as 

 Medsched. 



341 



