52 



Russian Mission from Orenhourg to Bokhara. 



[Jan. 



IV. — Journey of the Russian Mission from Orenburg fo Bokhara.-^ 

 Translated b>/ Colotiel Monteith, k. l. s., Chief Engineer of the 

 Madras Army. 



{Continued from vol. 10 p. 168.) 

 BOOK SECOND. 

 Chapter I. 



Ooservafions on the Khanats in the vicinity of Bokhara — the ruling 

 race in Central Asia, 



The Asiatic people to whom the Russians give the name of Tartars, 

 have the nose slightly flattened, the cheek bones prominent, little 

 beard on the chin, and small eyes, frequently v ilh a cast in them. 

 Gengis Klian, at the head of the Mongols, subjugated the Tartars/ 

 who became incorporated with his army, and those of his successors. 

 As they were the most numerous, the conquerors adopted the Turkish 

 language, barbarous as it was ; from this mixture of Tartars and a race 

 similar to the Mongols, sprang, I think, all those tribes regarded as 

 Mongol Tartars: they ou^ht to bear this name, which is appropriate 

 to them, and which prevails in Turkistan. 



What difference is there in fact between the features of a Kirohiz. 

 an Ouzbek, a Turkoman, a Kezareh, an Eimab, and those of a Turk 

 of Constantinople, or a Tartar of Kazan or Crimea * 



Some modern geographers affirm, with but little foundation, I think 

 that the Kirghiz possess ihe features of pure Tartars, which resemble 

 those of Europeans ; but it is impossible to confound the Kirghiz, and 

 the other Mongol Tartars, with the Kalmoucks, since they do not possess 

 the same corpulent frame, or features so strongly marked. 



The Kalmoucks speak a different language, and have the Tartar 

 features to the most exaggerated degree. 



A part of the Kalmoucks who fled from the banks of the Volga, in 

 1770, were obliged to remain, or were captured by the Kirghiz; this 

 has tended in some way to increase the strongly marked Tartar features, 

 which are still met with among the Kirghiz. 



Having on the road asked a man, who possessed completely the Mon- 

 gol feature, if he was a Kalmak (that is what is called a Kalmouk), 



• The author must speak of the Turkoman tribes in Asia Minor, for the Turks of 

 Europe, bj^ constant mixture with Europeans, have decidedly Greek features, full beards, 

 and generally a fairer complexioa than the people of the South of Europe.— rmwi/o/or. 



