KALMUCK. 
179 
iier circumstances afford. His wants are supplied with the most 
affectionate cordiality. Every stranger, of whatsoever nation, is well 
received by aKalmuc, and he may depend upon having his effects 
secure, the moment he puts himself under his protection, for to rob 
a guest is considered by the Kalniucs as the worst of crimes. When 
the master of the house sits down to meat with others of inferior rank, 
he begins indeed by serving himself and his family ; but whatever 
remains, is distributed among all present. When any one receives a 
present of meat or drink, he divides it faithfully with his companions, 
even though of inferior rank. But they are much more niggardly even 
of their other effects, and especially of their cattle, and do not 
willingly give these away, unless a friend has accidentally suffered the 
loss of his flocks, when he is sure to be most willingly assisted. Per- 
haps too it may be related as an article of their hospitality, that they 
abandon their wives to their friends with the greatest facility, and in 
general they are very little inclined to jealousy. Their robberies are 
never committed upon their equals, and even the greater part of the 
rapine exercised on other tribes is founded on hatred or national 
quarrels ; neither do they attempt this by open force, but prefer the 
machinations of cnnning. 
It must also be confessed that it is only those that live with princes, 
and in camps where those hold their courts, or their priests, that are 
most addicted to these practices ; while the common people, satisfied 
with the pleasures of a pastoral life, spend their days in innocent sim- 
plicity, and never attack the property of another, till forced by neces- 
sity, or led by their superiors who set them the example. The 
Kahnucs are very faithful to their princes, and endure every sort of 
oppression, and are with difficulty induced to revolt ; but if they 
belong to a prince who has not become so by right of succession, 
they easily rebel. They honour old age : when young men travel with 
such as are older than themselves, they take upon them the w'hole 
care of the cattle, as well as of the feast. They are exceedingly pru- 
dent in matters that relate to their sovereign or their nation, or which 
are recommended to their care by their priests, to whom they yield 
an unreserved obedience. The moveable habitations of the Kalmucs 
are those felt huts, with a conical roof, in use among all the roaming 
Asiatics. The truly ingenious invention of these tents was undoubt- 
edly conceived in the eastern parts of Asia, and most probably by the 
Mongul nations. As they can be easily taken to pieces, and folded 
into a small compass, they are very useful, and perfectly agree w ith the 
migratory life of those people, who are ignorant of the use of carriages. 
The frame of these huts, and the felt they are covered with, though 
made as light as possible, yet are a sufficient load for a camel, or tw'o 
oxen. But the capacity of these huts, their warmth in winter, their 
strength in resisting tempests and excluding rain, abundantly compen- 
sate for this inconvenience. The wmod endures many years, and 
though the felt begins to break i^to holes in the second year, yet as 
they do not consider it disgraceful to have them patched, they make 
them serve a good deal longer. The huts are in general use from the 
prince down to the meanest Kalmuc, differing only in size, and in the 
embellishments within. In winter they are warm, even when heated 
