KALMUOS. , 591 
diftruft, and a natural inclination, author! fed by cuftom, 
for drunkennefs and debauchery ; but efpecially for a great 
degree of cunning, which they too often praftife. The 
dilpolition to indolence is common and natural, efpecially 
among the men, to all Afiatic nations, who lead a kind 
of life exempt from fubjeftion and devoid of activity ; 
but this is lei's to be perceived among the Kalmucs, on 
account of their natural vivacity, and does not prevent 
their endeavours to oblige. Thofe among them who ex- 
ercife any little trade, or who are reduced by poverty to 
hire themfelves to the Ruffians either for labour or for 
hilling, are very affiduous and indefatigable. They deep 
but little, going to reft late and riling with the fun. To 
lleep through the day, unlefs a perfon is drunk, is conil- 
dered by them as dilhonourable. But their extreme dirti- 
nefs can neither be difguifed nor juftified, and proceeds 
much more from their education, from the dovenlinefs at¬ 
tached to the profeffion of a herdl'man, and from levity, 
than from lazinei’s ; for five Kaltnuc women are indefati¬ 
gable in whatever concerns domeftic matters; and it is for 
this real'on, as well as on the fcore of fenfuality, that the 
Kirguiiians are eager to feize and carry them off whenever 
an opportunity offers. 
With regard to the intelleftual^faculties of the Kal¬ 
mucs, notwithftanding their want of inftruftion and in¬ 
formation, they poffefs good natural parts, an excellent 
memory, and a ftrong dedre to learn. They acquire the 
Ruffian language with great facility, and pronounce it 
well; in which lad; article they very much furpafs the 
Chinefe. Although the Kalmucs are generally of a fan- 
guine and choleric temperament, they live more amicably 
together than one could expect in a people that lead fo 
independent a life. They feldom come to blows even 
over their cups, and their quarrels are hardly ever bloody. 
A murder very rarely happens, though their anger has 
fomething in it exceedingly fierce. It would feem that 
the morality of their religion, though exceedingly idola¬ 
trous, has been able to moderate their natural difpofition 
in this refpeft; for, in confequence of their dogmas with 
regard to the tranfmigration of fouls, every wanton mur¬ 
der, either of man or beaft, is thought a deadly fin. 
The Kalmucs are exceedingly affable ; and of fo focial 
a difpofition, that it is rare for a traveller to perceive ano¬ 
ther, even at a diftance, without going to falute him, and 
to inquire into the objeft of his journey. Nothing can 
be more prudent than that exercife of hofpitality prac- 
tifed by wandering nations; it is of the greateftadvantage 
to thofe among them who travel acrofs their del'erts ; and 
each individual who praftifes it, may rely on reaping the 
benefit of it wherever he goes. A Kalmuc provided with 
a horfe, with arms and equipage, may ramble from one 
place to another for three months together, without taking 
with him either money orprovifions. Wherever he comes 
he finds either diftant relations or friends, to whom he is 
attached by the ties of hofpitality, from whom he meets 
with the kindeft reception, and is entertained in the beft 
manner their circumftances afford. Perhaps he lodges in 
the firft unknown cottage he finds upon his road ; and 
fcarcely has he entered it, but his wants are fupplied with 
the moft affedlionate cordiality. Every ftranger, of what- 
foever nation, never fails to be well received by a Kalmuc; 
and he may depend upon having his effedts in the greateft 
fecurity the moment he has put himfelf under the protec¬ 
tion of his hoft; for to rob a gueft is confidered by the 
Kalmucs as the moft abominable of all crimes. When the 
matter of the houfe fits down to meat in company with 
others of inferior rank, he begins indeed by ferving him¬ 
felf and his family, but whatever remains is diftributed 
among the affiftants. When they fmoke tobacco, the pipe 
circulates inceffantly from one to another. When any one 
receives a prefent either of meat or drink, he divides it 
faithfully with his companions, even though of inferior 
rank ; and, if any one has accidentally fuffered the lofs of 
his flocks, he is fureto be moft willingly afiifted. Perhaps 
too it may be related as an article of their hofpitality, that 
they abandon their wives to their friends with the greateft 
facility; and in general they are very little inclined to jea- 
loufy. 
Their robberies are never committed upon their equals ; 
and even the greater part of the rapine exercifed on other 
tribes is founded on hatred or national quarrels ; neither 
do they willingly attempt this by open force, but prefer 
the machinations of cunning, whiclv are fo natural to them. 
It muft alfo be confeffed, that it is only thofe that live 
with princes, and in camps where tbefe hold their courts, 
or their priefts, that are much addifted to thefe practices ; 
while the common people, fatisfied with the pleafures of 
the paftoral life, fpend their days in innocent fnnplicity, 
and never attack the property of another till forced by ne- 
ceffity, or led by their fuperiors who (how them the exam¬ 
ple. The Kalmucs are very faithful to their lawful prince ; 
they endure every fort of oppreffion, and yet are with dif¬ 
ficulty induced to revolt. They honour old age. When 
y.oung men travel with fuch as are older than themfelves s 
they take upon them the whole care of the cattle, as well 
as of the feaft. They are exceedingly prudent in matters 
that relate to their fovereign or their nation, or which are 
recommended to their direction by the priefts, to whom 
they yield an unreferved obedience. 
The moveable habitations of the Kalmucs are thofe felt 
huts with a conical roof in ufe among all the roaming Ali- 
atics. The truly ingenious invention of thefe tents was 
undoubtedly conceived in the eaftern parts of Alia, and 
moft probably by the Mongul nations. As they can be en¬ 
tirely taken to pieces and folded in a fmall compafs, they 
are very ufeful, and perfectly agree with the migratory life 
of thefe people, who are ftill ignorant of the ule of carri¬ 
ages. The frame of thefe huts, and the felt they are co¬ 
vered with, though made as light as poffibie, yet areafuf- 
ficient load for a camel or two oxen. But the capacity of 
thefe huts, their warmtli in w'inter, their Itrength in relift¬ 
ing tempefts and excluding rain, abundantly compenfate 
for this inconvenience. The wood endures many years 5 
and, though the felt begins to break into holes in the fe- 
cond year, the common people, who do not confider it as 
difgraceful to have them mended and patched, make them 
fervea good deal longer. The huts are in general ufe from 
the prince down to the meaneft Kalmuc, differing only in 
fize and in the embelliftiments within. In winter, they are 
warm even when heated with the dried excrements of then- 
cattle, to which they are often obliged to have recourfe, 
for want of other combuftibles, in many places of the de- 
ferts which are deftitute of wood. In fummer they remove 
the felt to enjoy the freffi air. The malter of the tent has 
his bed placed oppofite to the door, behind the fire-place. 
The bedfteads are low, and made of wood. The rich 
adorn their beds with curtains, and fpread carpets or felt 
upon the ground. When a Kalmuc poffeffes an idol, he 
places it near the head of his bed, and lets before it feve- 
ral fmall confecrated cups full of water, milk, or other 
food. Before this fort of altar he fixes in the ground the 
trunk of a tree, on which he places a large iron bafon de- 
ftined to receive the libations of all the drink lie maljcs 
ufe of in a day. On feftivals the idol is decorated, the 
lamps are lighted, and perfumes burnt before it. 
The riches of the Kalmucs, and their whole means of 
fubfiftence, depend on their flocks, which many of them 
reckon by hundreds, and even by thoufands. A man is 
thought capable of living on his poffeffions when he is maf- 
ter of ten cows with a bull, eight mares with a ftallion. 
The animals they have in greateft abundance are horfes, 
horned cattle, and flieep. Camels, which require time and 
pains to rear, cannot multiply much with them ; they are 
befides too delicate ; and it is only the rich or the priefts 
who poffefs any of them. Their horfes are but fmall, too 
weak for the draught, and too wild ; but they do not yield 
to any in fvviftnefs, and fupport with eafe the weight of a 
man. They may be made to gallop for feveral hours fuc- 
ceffively without injury ; and, when neceffity requires it, 
they can pafs twice twenty-four hours without drinking. 
They 
