CALMUCKS. 
437 
acts of kindness, was our interpreter upon this p . 
occasion. He spoke the Calmuck language with * — 
great fluency, and said it was by no means diffi- 
cult to acquire. It is frequently used in Astra- 
chan, and throughout all the territorryof Bochara, 
whose inhabitants are principally Calmuchs. We 
had an opportunity of seeing some who had 
traversed those remote and almost impene- 
trable regions. When we questioned them with 
regard to Sarmacand, its once celebrated sarma- 
capital, they described it as possessing the 
remains of former magnificence. Perhaps it also 
contains many curious manuscripts; as the 
Calmuchs are so well versed in the art of writing, 
and hold certain of their manuscripts even 
in religious veneration. Like all other Oriental 
nations, they preserve many traditions re- 
specting Alexander. These remarks, in addition 
to former observations, contain all the informa- 
tion we are able to afford concerning this re- 
markable people, the Hippopiiagi of Pliny and 
of the more antient historians. Their number 
in the Russian empire has diminished since the 
establishment of provincial governments and 
the division of lands, owing to their being more 
confined to limited situations*. Frequent at- 
tempts have been made, and are daily making, 
to induce them to form a regular settlement ; 
(2) See Pallas’s Travels in Russia, vul. I. p. 1 1 a. 
