. 
1801. ] 
do they not the fame atall times. Befides, 
the farmer knows it is contrary to his in- 
_ tereft- to have corn dear, which will occa~ 
fion an advance in his rent, a certain and 
conttant difadvantage, whilf a high price 
for corn: is only a contingent advantage. 
Neither can millers, mealmen, &c. enhance 
the price by monopoly, for corn and flour 
are articles which will foon damage, and 
fometimes will be almoft fpoiled by keep- 
ing them a few weeks. A Non | eae 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
REMARKS 0x the CALMUCS, their MAN- 
Sarepta, Fuly, 3793, 
Had lately the pleafure to attend the 
and his family, ‘on a vifit toa Calmuc 
Prince; and I flatter myfelf that a de- 
in which we were entertained by the 
Prince’s family, will prove acceptable to 
The Calmucs belong to thofe nomadi- 
cal peoples who in the plains and de- 
live a truly patriarchal ‘life, in feparate 
hordes, under the government of their 
from their herds and flocks, and remaining 
only fo long in one place as they can find 
above-mentioned Prince was now encamp- 
ed near the German colony Sarepta, our 
The choice of the day on which, in 
confequence of an invitation from the 
was left to M. Pallas; and he appointed 
Friday, being their day of reft, like our 
tunity of affifling at the public worlhip of 
their gods. We were unacquainted with 
mafter of-police at Sarepta, who had lived 
feveral years among the Calraucs, was fo 
take the office of interpreter. 
It was in the middle of June, in the moft. 
made this excurfion.. The weather was 
very favourable, the air pure and ferene, 
nouncing a fine fummers-day, 
Our road led through the German vil- 
ee 
NERS, and CUSTOMS*. 
I Ruffian councillor of tate, M. Pallas, 
{cription of the horde, and of the manner 
you. 
ferts on the Volga and the Ural (Yaik) 
chiefs; drawing their fubfiltence entirely 
pafture for them. The horde of the 
prefent place of reiidence. 
Prince, we were to vilit the Calmuc camp 
Sunday, fo that we might have an cppor- 
the Calmuc Janguage ; but M. Hammell, 
obliging as to accompany us, and under- 
delightful feafon of the year, that we 
and the fun arofe in fill fplendcur, an- 
lage Schonbrunn, which is diflant two 
* From the Letter of a gentleman refiding 
at Sarepia, to his friend in Germany, 
Remarks on the Calmucs, their Manners and Cuftoms. 
dength. 
409 
verfts from Sarepta, and derives its name 
from a fpring,, the water of. which is con- 
dicted in pipes to the latter place. Having 
pafled the agreeable wood Tfchapurnick, 
which lies near Schonbrunn, and belongs 
to the cclonifts, we found ourfelves in an 
extenfive barren defert, and, after travel- 
ling eight verits more, arrived at the tract 
of country where we were to meet with 
the horde. We foonreached an eminence, 
commanding a full view of a broad valley, 
in which ftocd their camp, in fcattered 
clufters of tents, and which was hitherte 
hidden from us by the hills over which we 
had pafled. The rays of the fun had 
added frefh luftre to the foft verdure of the 
fruitful plain, through which a fmall ri- 
vulet glided with gentle meanders. Innu- 
merable herds of camels, horfes, fheep, 
and horned cattle, were feeding on the 
downs, the limits of which our eye could 
not reach; and various groups of.men . 
were bufily employed in their various oc- 
cupations. Thenewnefs and uncommon- 
nefs of the fcene before us made an impretf- 
fion which it is impoffible to defcribe. We 
food a confiderable time on the eminence, 
abforbed in the contemplation of the fine 
rofpec& before us, and gave ourfelves up 
to our feelings, while our eager eyes. wan- 
dered over the various objects that pre- 
fented themfelves to our view. 
As foon as we were obferved by the 
Calmucs, the Prince, a young man about 
fixteen or feventeen years of age, and of 
rather a rude appearance, came on horfe- 
back to meet us, accompanied by feveral 
of his court-retinue. His drefs confifted 
of a coat of light-blue cloth, ornamented 
with gold taflels, and reaching down as 
low as the knee; the fleeves were flit up; 
and his under garment was of the fame 
He wore yellow boots, and a 
fabre at his fide, and on his head a lit:ie 
flat yellow cap, with a black border. His 
hair plaited intoa cue on the_crown of 
the head. His attendants -had very little 
in their drefs to diftinguifi it from that of 
the common Calmucs. When they had 
approached near enough, the Prince dif- 
mounted to bid us welcome; and, having 
informed us of the indifpofition of his mo- 
ther, accompanied us down into the val- 
ley, to the encampment of the horde. 
A little before we reached it, a wooden 
crofs, which was ftuck in the ground, at- 
tracted my attention. It was about two 
feet high; and red, white, and blue twitted 
yarn was drawn from the upper point to 
the two fides of the crofs-beams, and 
thence again down towards the upright 
one, fo as to form an oblique-fanding 
quadrangle, 
