INHABITANTS, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMS. See Plate, No. 73. Independent Tartary is inhabited by a number of different tribes of Tartars, as Calmucs, Usbecks, Taujiks, Turbomars, Kirghises, &c., who are mostly of the Mahometan religion, and lead a pastoral, or a wandering and predatory life. The vast region of Chinese Tartary is inhabited by numerous barbarous tribes of wandering Tartars, some of the principal of which are the Monguls, Manshurs, or Manchoos, Kalkas, Ortous, Eluths, Baschkirs, &c. They are nominally subject to the Chinese empire, and are devoted to Shamanism, or the religion of the lamas. Calmucs. The Calmucs are a tribe of Tartars, inhabiting partly Tartary, and partly the Russian territory. They are pagans, and are said to be the only Tartar nation that has retained the ancient language of the Moguls in its purity. They are well made, of middle size, large head, round face, dark olive complexion, prominent cheek bones, small sparkling black eyes, broad and very flat nose, thin beard, and black coarse hair. Their appearance is rather forbidding, yet some of the women have agreeable features, and a delicate complexion. Their dress consists chiefly of a shirt and drawers, made of cotton, or of sheepskin, a small round bonnet trimmed with fur, ornamented with a tuft of silk or horse hair of red colour, and immensely large boots. There is but little difference in the dress of the two sexes. They are social, hospitable, cheerful, good humoured, ready to oblige, but passionately addicted to gambling. They pay no attention to agriculture, but their whole subsistence is derived from their sheep, cattle, and horses. They are far from being delicate about their food; horseflesh is preferred to any other, and is eaten raw. Their favourite dish, during a journey, is a piece of horse flesh, placed under the saddle of the horse, which, by warmth and pressure, becomes tender. Of mare's milk they make a fermented liquor, called koumis; from which they distil a spirit, called rack, or racky, of which they are remarkably fond. Their arms consist of bows and arrows, lances, sabres, and poignards; the higher orders only use fire-arms. They are trained to horsemanship from infancy, and both sexes are very expert in the exercise. So partial are the Calmucs to this amusement, that, says Dr. Clarke, "the ceremony of marriage among them is performed on horseback. A girl is first mounted, who rides off at full speed. Her lover pursues; and if he overtakes her she becomes his wife, and the marriage is consummated on the spot; after which she returns with him to his tent. But it sometimes happens, that the woman does not wish to marry the person by whom she is pursued, in which case she will not suffer him to overtake her; and we were assured that no instance occurs of a Calmuc girl being thus caught, unless she has a partiality for her pursuer. If she dislikes him, she rides, to use the language of English sportsmen, 'neck or nothing,' until she has completely escaped, or until the pursuer's horse is tired out, leaving her at liberty to return, to be afterwards chased by some more favoured admirer." Taujiks or Taujets. The Taujiks, a name said to signify citizens, are of common stature, fair complexion, black expressive eyes, hawk nose, well shaped face, fine black hair, and thick beard. The women have also beautiful features. They inhabit the towns of Bukharia, but are also widely diffused in other parts. They devote themselves chiefly to trade, agriculture, and the mechanic arts. Usbecks. The Usbecks differ greatly from the Taujiks, and are reputed the most civilized of the Mahometan Tartars. They are short and stout; have a clear and ruddy complexion, black hair, thin beard, broad forehead, high cheek bones, and small eyes. They lead a pastoral life; are addicted to war and predatory habits, and pride themselves on being the bravest and most robust of the Tartar They are surprisingly patient of hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and are renowned for the activity of their movements in predatory war; yet they are comparatively sin race. cere and honest, and a stranger may travel through their country in perfect safety. Their arms consist of a long and heavy lance, a shield, long knives, daggers, and sometimes swords. The horses of the Usbecks are reputed, next to those of the Arabs, the best in Asia. They are so numerous that there is scarcely a man so poor as to walk on foot; even beggars travel on horseback, or on camels or asses. Among the Usbecks, as among other Tartar tribes, horseflesh and koumis, or fermented mare's milk, are considered as the greatest of luxuries. Their tents are formed of thin lath, covered with black felt; but many of them now live in towns. The dress of the men consists of a shirt and trowsers of cotton, a coat or tunić of silk or woollen cloth, bound by a girdle, and over it they throw a gown of felt or woollen. The national head-dress is a large white turban over a kalpac or pointed silken cap. All classes wear boots, and bandages round their legs instead of stockings. The women also wear boots, and the rest of their dress is similar to that of the men, but is longer. A silk handkerchief is tied round the head; and a silk or cotton sheet is chosen as the outward garment, and gold or silver ornaments are used in considerable profusion. Mongols or Moguls. The Mongols or Moguls have been celebrated in the history of Asia, having, under Jenghis Khan, extended their dominions, not only over the finest regions of that continent, but also over a great part of northern Europe. At present they have lost this widely extended dominion, and are split into a number of petty states, dependent upon the empires of Russia or China. They are of middle size, strong and muscular; have broad, square, flat faces; very low and flat nose; small, keen, black eyes; very large prominent ears; thick lips; very little beard; black, strong hair, shaven off, except a little tuft on the crown. They are rude, frank, and hospitable, addicted to war and plunder. They are of a gay and cheerful disposition, and spend much of their time in sports and exercises. They profess Shamanism, or the religion of Fo, and have lamas residing among them. They lead a pastoral and wandering life, remaining on one spot only so long as it affords paturage for their cattle. Their tents are composed of thick gray or white felt, of a conical form, with a hole at the top to allow the smoke to escape. The dress of the common people consists of sheep or lamb skin, with the wool inwards. The rich wear cotton cloths lined with skins. Their food consists of milk and flesh, of which horse flesh is considered far the most delicate, and a great luxury. Besides koumis, their favourite liquor, they use tea and mead. They take great pride in their horses. They catch them running with the slip knot of a cord, train them with great skill, and inspire them with such intrepidity, that they are able to face even tigers. THIBET OR TIBET. Features of the Country. The distinguishing characteristic of this country is its great and general elevation; its features are in the highest degree rugged and sublime, the greatest part being covered with the most stupendous mountains, rocky hills, or arid plains, all of the most stern and forbidding aspect. In the southern part are the Himmaleh mountains, always covered with snow, and reputed the highest on the globe. The principal wealth of the country consists in its animals and minerals. Much of it is destitute of fire-wood, for which the dung of animals is used as a substitute. Animals. Thibet is distinguished for the variety and abundance of its animals, some of the most remarkable of which are the yak, or bushy-tailed bull, the musk deer, and a species of goat. The yak is about the size of an English bull, but being covered all over with a thick coat of long hair, appears to be of greater bulk. They are extremely useful as beasts of burden, being strong, sure footed, and capable of carrying a great weight. Their tails are composed of a prodigious quantity of long, flowing, glossy hair, sometimes trailing upon the ground. They are in great repute throughout the east, being used for driving away winged insects, flies, and mosquetoes, and being also employed as ornamental furniture upon horses and elephants. The musk deer are found in great abundance upon the high mountains, and are about the size of a hog, which they resemble in the figure of the body. They are covered with thick hair growing erect, two or three inches long, and which, on examination, resembles hair less than feathers or the quills of the porcupine. The musk, which forms a valuable article of revenue, is a secretion contained in a little bag or tumour, resembling a wen, situated at the navel, and is found only in the male. The goat of Thibet is the most beautiful species of goats, and is the animal which yields the material for the manufacture of Cashmere shawls. Their colour is various, black, white, and of a faint, bluish tinge. They have straight horns, and are of a lower stature than common sheep. LASSA. Lassa, the capital of Thibet, is situated on a branch of the Burrampooter, in a plain, encompassed by mountains, and, a century ago, was estimated to contain 30,000 inhabitants. It is celebrated chiefly as the residence of the Grand Lama, the great head of the Shaman religion, which is diffused over a great part of Asia. Here is a temple, the most famous in the country, situated on a mountain, to the east of the city, called Putala, or Holy Mountain. It is resorted to from all quarters. The lama is held nearly in the same veneration throughout the regions of Thibet and Tartary, as the pope in the most superstitious of Catholic countries; and this city is, in consequence, usually thronged with royal and noble devotees from various parts of Asia. It is also much resorted to for purposes of commerce, INHABITANTS. The Thibetians are rude and ignorant, and, like all others in similar situations, are content with little. The |