236

Manners and Habits of the Tartars.

Mogul and Persian empires, as far as the Caspian Sea, on the north and west. They spread along the Wolga, and the western coast of the Caspian, as far as Daghestan; they have penetrated to the north coast of the Black Sea, and have an establishment in Crimea, in Little Tartary, and in the Ukraine.

In such an amazing extent of country there will, of course, be a considerable variety in their persons, as well as in their manners and customs. M. Buffon has described them generally, as having, even in their youth, large wrinkled foreheads, with thick and short noses, and very small eyes, sunk deep in the head; their cheek-bones are high, and the lower part of their face is very narrow; their chin is long and prominent, and their upper-jaw falls in; their teeth are long and distinct from each other; the eyebrows are thick, and cover a part of their eyes; the face is flat, the skin is tawny, and the hair is black; their bodies are of a middle stature, but strong and robust.

In speaking of the different tribes, we find, from the most authentic accounts, that the Calmucs, who live in the neighbourhood of the Caspian Sea, between Muscovy and Great Tartary, are robust men, but the most ugly and deformed beings under heaven. Their faces are so flat, that their eyes, which are very small, are situated five or six inches asunder. Their noses are so low, that, instead of nostrils, two holes are only to be seen: their knees bend outwards, and their legs inward.

After the Calmucs, the Tartars of Daghestan hold the next rank in deformity.

The Little Tartars, or those of Nogay, who live near the Black Sea, are not so ugly as the Calmucs, though they resemble them in their general figure. The Tartars of Siberia have a different language from that of the Calmucs, whom in other respects they so much resemble, that they ought to be regarded as the same race of people. In our approaches to Independent Tartary, the features of the inhabitants gradually soften, but the characters essential to their race are never obliterated. Lastly, the Mongou, or Mogul Tartars, who conquered China, and were the most polished, though their features are less disagreeable, yet, like all the other tribes, they have small eyes, large flat faces, thin black or red beards, short sunk noses, and a tawny complexion. The people of Thibet, and of the other southern provinces of Tartary, are also less deformed.

The blood of the Tartars is mixed on one side with the Chinese, and on the other with the oriental Russians. But the characteristic features of the race are not entirely obliterated by this mixture; for among the Muscovites the Tartarian aspect is very frequent, and though the former have sprung from the European race, still many individuals are found very much resembling the Tartars. The Chinese have so strong a resemblance to the Tartars, that it is uncertain whether they are not of the same race: the most remarkable difference arises from a total disparity in their dispositions, manners, and customs. The Tartars are fierce, warlike, and fond of hunting: they love fatigue and independence, are hardy and brutally gross. But the manners of the Chinese are the reverse: they are effeminate, peaceable, indolent, superstitious, submissive; and very ceremonious. In their features and form, however, they have a great resemblance to the Tartars.

Manners and Habits of the Tartars.

In every age the immense plains of Tartary have been inhabited

Of the Tartar Habitations, Dress, and Diet.

237

by wandering tribes of hunters and shepherds, whose indolence refuses to cultivate the earth, and whose restless spirit disdains the confinement of a sedentary life.

In every age the Tartars have been renowned for their invincible courage and surprising conquests. In general they are a wandering sort of people: in their peregrinations they set out in the spring in companies of several thousands, preceded by their flocks and herds. When they come to an inviting spot, they remain there till they have consumed its produce. They have but little money, except what they obtain from their neighbours, the Russians, Persians, or Turks, in exchange for cattle: with this they purchase apparel for their women.

They have few mechanics, except those who make arms. They avoid all labour as the greatest slavery: their only employment is tending their flocks, hunting, and managing their horses. If they are angry with a person, they wish he may live in one fixed place, and work like a Russian. They are hospitable, particularly to strangers who confidently put themselves under their protection.

They are naturally of an easy and cheerful temper, and seldom depressed by care and melancholy; and are so much delighted with their own country, that they conceive it impossible to traverse their plains without envying them their possession: "You have travelled a great way," said one of these Tartars to the Baron de Tott; "but did you ever before see a country like ours?"

There is a strong resemblance between the northern and independent Tartars and some of the more northerly nations of North America, particularly in their treatment of the aged, and of those who are reckoned incurable; they make a hut for the patient near some river, in which they leave him, with a small quantity of provisions, and seldom think of visiting him again. On such occasions they suppose they are doing their parents a kindness by sending them to a better world.

But among the southern Tartars, filial affection, and a respect to the memory of their deceased parents, have ever been distinguishing

traits.

Of the Tartar Habitations, Dress, and Diet.

The houses of the Tartars are no more than small tents, of an oval form. The palaces of the rich consist of wooden huts of such size that they may be conveniently fixed on large waggons, and drawn by a team perhaps of twenty or thirty oxen. They cover their habitations with felt, the parts of which they join so nicely as to keep out the piercing blasts of the north wind; for the same purpose they take great care to place the door of the tents, which is very small, facing the south. The flocks and herds, after grazing all day in the adjacent pasture, retire on the approach of night, within the protection of the camp.

The necessity of preventing the most mischievous confusion in such a perpetual concourse of men and animals, has gradually introduced regulations among them resembling some that are known among more civilized people. Each proprietor has his own mark, which is burnt into the thighs of the horses, oxen, and dromedaries, and painted with colours on the wool of the sheep. The latter are kept in all seasons near the owner's habitation, but the other species, united in herds, are, towards the spring driven to the plains, where they are

238

Government and Domestic Economy.

left at large till the winter. At the approach of this season, seek and drive them to their sheds.

they

The Tartars are reckoned the most expert at pitching and removing their tents of any people in the world, to which they have ever been accustomed, by their constant incursions upon the neighbouring nations; on this account they have neither house nor fixed residence: the camp includes their families, their friends, their companions, and their property; in their more distant marches they are still surrounded by all the objects that are valuable, familiar, and dear to their eyes; they are the most formidable enemy with which any civilized people can contend.

The dress of the Tartars consists of large shirts and drawers; their habits are commonly made of calico, or some other slight stuff which they line with sheep skin; and sometimes they wear entire garments of the same materials.

Red is the colour in the highest esteem with the Tartars: and although their chiefs and grandees are but meanly clothed in other respects, they seldom fail to have a scarlet robe for state occasions. They would rather be without a shirt than a scarlet coat; and the women of quality do not think themselves well-dressed if the scarlet garment is wanting. Those who are able to get them, wear coats of stuff or silk, above which they throw a fur-coat of sheep-skins; and in time of war they cover their head and body with iron net-work, the links of which are so close, that it is proof against any kind of weapons, except fire-arms; a bullet will break it, and generally carries some of the broken pieces into the wound, which makes them stand in great awe of fire-arms.

As the Tartars neither reap, nor make hay for their cattle, so they live without bread or any sort of vegetable, except their millet; and in the winter their cattle fare as other wild beasts. Their own food is flesh, especially that of horses; they eat also mutton, fish, wild fowl, and venison, but are not fond of beef or veal. They have plenty of milk, butter, and cheese, but mare's milk is the most esteemed by them, and from it they make a very strong spirit, clear as water, of which they are very fond. The cows, indeed, after their calves are taken from them, will suffer none to draw their teats: they quickly lose their milk, so that necessity has, perhaps, introduced the general use of mare's milk.

Government and Domestic Economy.

The Tartars are divided into a number of hordes or clans, every one under a particular Khan or leader, all of whom acknowledge one principal Khan, who is called the King of Kings, and derives his pedigree from Tamerlane.

When the Tartar nations elect a Khan, they regard experience and wisdom more than any other circumstances; for which reason they commonly prefer the oldest person of the royal family. In the infancy of the government, a senate, or a council of elders, is, or has been usually chosen, in which is invested the management of public affairs.

Slavery is not practised among the roving Tartars; as their cattle are their riches, they have no desire to burthen themselves with useless mouths, and none except the Khans, are allowed to have slaves. But the Mahometan Tartars frequently make war upon their neighbours, for the purpose of procuring slaves, whom they may sell. This practice prevails so much among the Circassian, Daghestan, and Nogay

Tartars, that when they cannot meet with grown people, they steal children to sell; and if they cannot get others, they sell their own,. especially their daughters, if beautiful, as they do their wives, on the slightest disgust.

It is usual among some of the tribes, for a young pair to live together as man and wife for one year; if during that time, the woman has produced a child, their marriage is completed; but if not, they either separate at pleasure, or agree to make another year's trial. Traces of this custom may be discovered in the law of Scotland, according to which a marriage dissolved within a year and a day, and without a child, restores each party to the same situation as if no alliance had existed.

The respect paid by the children to their fathers, who are considered as kings of their families, is very great; but they pay little attention to their mothers. They lament a father many days, and during the time abstain from all sort of pleasure. Nothing must be spared to render his funeral honourable, and at least once a year they pay their devotions at his tomb.

Among the articles of their domestic economy, we shall quote the following fact, from a modern traveller. “I approached, (says he,) a group of Tartars assembled round a dead horse, which they had just skinned. A young man about eighteen, who was naked, had the hide of the animal thrown over his shoulder. A woman, who performed the office of tailor with great dexterity, began by cutting the back of this new dress, following with her scissars the round of the neck, the fall of the shoulders, the semicircle which formed the sleeve, and the side of the habit, which was intended to reach below the knee. She proceeded in the same manner with the other parts, till the cutting out was finished; the man then who had served as a mould, crouched on his hams, while the several pieces were stitched together, so that in less than two hours he had a good brown-bay coat, which only wanted to be tanned by continual wearing."

THIBET.

THIBET is bounded N. by the desert of Cobi or the unknown regions of Central Asia; E. by China; S. by farther India and the Himmaleh mountains, which separate it from Hindoostan; and W. by Independent Tartary. Including Bootan, which is one of its tributary provinces, it extends from 26° to 38 N. lat. and 70° to from 100° E. lon. The area has been estimated at 400,000 square miles. The number of inhabitants is estimated by Hassel at 12 or 16 millions.

People of Thibet.

The men of Thibet are generally stout, and the women of a ruddy complexion, heightened, like the fruits, by the proximity of the sun, while the mountain breezes bestow health and vigour.

It is peculiar to this country, that polygamy assumes a different form here from that of eastern nations; the women being indulged in a plurality of husbands.

Such is the respect paid to Lama, that his body is preserved after death in a shrine; while those of the inferior priests are burnt, and

their ashes preserved in little hollow images of metal. In general, however, the dead bodies are exposed to beasts and birds of prey, in walled areas; and an annual festival is held, as in Bengal and China, in honour of the dead.

The religion of Thibet differs materially from that of the Hindoos. The inhabitants assemble in chapels, in prodigious numbers, to perform their religious service, which they chaunt in alternate recitative and chorus, accompanied by an extensive band of loud and powerful instruments. "So that whenever I heard," says a traveller in Thibet, "these congregations, they forcibly recalled to my recollection both the solemnity and the sound of the Roman Catholic mass."

Climate and Manufactures.

The chief manufactures are shawls, and woollen cloths, but there is a general want of industry, and the fine undermost hair of goats, from which shawls are manufactured, is chiefly sent to Cashmir. The principal exports are to China, consisting of gold-dust, diamonds, pearls, corals, lamb-skins, musk, and woollen cloths.

In the temperature of the seasons a remarkable uniformity prevails, in their periodical duration and return; just as in the more southern regions of Bengal. The Spring is marked from March to May, by a variable atmosphere; heat, thunder storms, and occasionally refreshing showers. From June to September is the season of humidity, when continued rains fill the rivers to their brim, which run off with great rapidity, to assist in inundating Bengal. From October to March, a clear and uniform sky succeeds, seldom obscured by fogs or clouds. For three months of this season, a degree of cold is felt far greater than is known to prevail in Europe. Its extreme severity is more particularly confined to the southern boundary of Thibet, near that elevated range of mountains which divides it from Asam, Bootan, and Nipal. Thus the distinguishing characteristics of the climate is a dry and parching cold, which, under the latitude of twenty-six degrees, rivals that of the Alps in latitude forty-six degrees.

Bootan, south of the Himmala range, with all its confused and shapeless mountains, is covered with eternal verdure, and abounds in forests of large and lofty trees. The sides of the mountains are improved by the hand of industry, and crowned with orchards, fields, and villages. Thibet-Proper, on the contrary, exhibits only low and rocky hills, without any visible vegetation, or extensive arid plains, of an aspect equally stern; while the bleak and cold climate constrains the inhabitants to seck refuge in sheltered vales and hollows, or amidst the warmest aspect of the rocks.

Of the Capital.

Lassa, the capital, is situated on a spacious plain, being but a small city, but the houses, which are of stone, are spacious and lofty. The mountain of Putala,on which stands the palace of the Lama, is about seven miles to the east of the city. Lassa is almost in the centre of Thibet. Among the edifices, the monasteries may first be mentioned; one described by Mr. Turner is computed to contain three or four hundred houses inhabited by monks, besides temples, mausolea, and the palace of the sovereign pontiff. The buildings are all of stone, two stories high, with flat roofs, and parapets composed of heath and brushwood.