The Shasta courier., 1871-09-30
THE KALMUCKs AND NOCAY TAR
TARS.

In traversing Caucasus from north to
south, the traveller, after leaving the Co.'S
sack country, strikes the vast arid plains
called steppes, over which roam those
strange people, the Kalmucks and Nogay
Tartars. The religion o. the former is q
sort of alteration from Buddhism. Their
ragged tents, scattered over that part of
this desolate region which they appropriate
to themselves, are estimated to contain
$4,000 families. In 1771, unable to en-
dure the vexations of Russia, they, like
the children of Israel in Egypt, moved
of in a solid moss in Asia-2, SOC, 900 of
them-a sufficient answer to those who
doubt the Biblical account of the number
Moses took with him. at-
Like flying camps, these villages of tents
move from place to place, as the impulse
seizes the owner As the traveller comes;
upon one Of these vast camps at midday,
no signs of life meet him. All is silent
and moveless on the desolate, burning
plain on which they are pitched. The.
men are away, pillaging from neighbors not
OF their own race, while the women aud
children hide themselves in their ragged
tents from the rays of the sun. The inter
iors of these tents present an indescribable
medley of trunks, valises, chests, saddles
and brides, and old clothes, piled in
confused heap-spoils which the men have
gathered in their forays The fireplace
alone shows that it is the habitationi of q
family This, in winter, serves the double
purpose of cooking, and place for the
children to sleep iu, who roll themselves
up IN the warm ashes to protect themsel--
YES from cold. These, even up to ten
years OF age, go almost entirely naked in
the summer time, for the heat in these
desert plains is then intense. In the win
ter, when the cold wind sweeps unchecked
over them, all huddled together in their
ragged tents, which often for days are blot
ted out BY the snow-drift that cover them.
Clad in dirty shirt, with bagging pam
falcons, red morocco boots, and woolen cap
encircled BY huge baud of sheepskin
with the wool on, the Kalmuck presents a
singular appearance. He has debased
countenance, high cheek bone, and long
disheveled hair. Though small in stature,
this child of the desert is strongly built.
s"N soo3u 40 AioH. i ucit ~ TeSarueQ as
the proper business of life, and is practiced
with an adroitness hardly conceivable.
He will take away simple peasant't ami.
NAL right before his eyes. Theft he im-
presses on his child as religious duty,
and how to succeed in this, his only pro-
per occupation, is the sole education he
gives him.
he Nogay or Nogais, divide with
the Kalmucks ese vast steppes They
are Turkish race, peaceabie in their
habits, and tillers OF the soil. In other
respects they resemble the Kalmucks in
their manner and mode of lite. Burned
by the rays of the sun summer, and swept
by the biting winds and long, frightful
snow storms in winter they lead mser-
able, suffering existence Between 1857
and 1860, more then 100000 of these
nomads emigrated to Turkey. No partic-
ular reason was assigned for this extraordi-
nary emigration. Whether, driven BY
the vexations of local authorities, they
hoped to find a spot where they would be.
free from them, or whether drawn there
by their Mohammedan faith, o. moved by-
some report that reached them of a land
like that of Canaan, flowing with milk
and honey, is not known; but village
after village struck It's tents and moved
southwark, till more than 100000 bade-
farewell to their native steppes.