310 
CALMUCKS. 
C 1 1 A P. 
XU. 
Visit to 
a Camp of 
Calmucks. 
its tardy and almost stagnant waters through 
the steppes, to a place named from it, Ferchnia 
Lazovaia. On its banks we observed the Sinapis 
nigra and Convolvulus arvensis, plants common 
in England. 
We afterwards saw a camp of Calmucks, 
in the plain towards the right of our route. 
As we much wished to visit this people, it 
was thought prudent to send a part of our 
Cossack escort before, in order to apprize them 
of our inclination, and to ask their permission. 
The sight of our carriage, and of the party 
approaching with it, seemed to throw them 
into great confusion. We observed them run- 
ning backwards and forwards from one tent 
to another, and moving several of their goods. 
As we drew near, on foot, about half-a-dozen 
gigantic figures came towards us, stark naked, 
excepting a cloth bound about the waist, with 
greasy, shining, and almost black skins, and 
black hair braided into a long queue behind. 
They began talking very fast, in so loud a tone, 
and in so uncouth a language, that we were 
a little intimidated. We shook hands however 
with the foremost, which seemed to pacify 
them, and we were invited into a large tent. 
Near to its entrance hung a quantity of horse- 
flesh, with the limbs of dogs, cats, marmots. 
