CALMUCKS. 
raent above her head, scattered the remaining 
liquor in the air. We asked the meaning of v 
this ceremony, and were answered, that it is a 
religious custom, to give always the first drop 
of the brandy from the receiver to their God. 
The stick was then plunged into the receiver a 
second time; when more brandy adhering to 
the camel's hair, she squeezed it into the palm 
of her dirty and greasy hand, and, having tasted 
the liquor, presented it to our lips. 
The covering of their tents consists of neat 
and well-made mats, such as we see brought 
from India ; and also of felt, or coarse woollen 
cloths. Whenever a Calmuck marries, he must 
build one of these tents, and one also for every 
child lie has by that marriage. If a husband 
die, his widow becomes the property of his 
brother, provided the latter choose to accept of 
her. A distinction between married and unmar- 
ried women is exhibited in the manner of dressing 
their hair. A married woman wears her hair 
braided, falling over her shoulders, and on each 
side of her face ; but a virgin has only a single 
braid hanging down the middle of her back. 
Their tents were all of a circular form. Near to 
these we observed a party of their children, 
from the age of five to fourteen, playing at the 
antient Grecian game (before mentioned as 
315 
CHAP. 
XII. 
