Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-25
STRANGE CALkU0S.
A RACE OF SIMPLICITY AND sUPERsTI.
 TON.

They Never Remain Long In One Place
 The Occupation of the Womsn-curi.
 ous Ceremonies at Their Weddings. The Calmucks primitively inhabited the countries northeast of the Chinese Empire. At the commencement of the seventeenth century they arrived on the shore of the Cas- pian Sea. and they have camped there to the present day.
 Tho principal trait in the character of tho OAlmucks, after their simplicity, want Of cleanliness and laziness, is that. after tho manner of all nomad people. they arc ex- tremely superstitious. Tho Calmuck never undertakes any serious matter without hay. ing previously consulted sorcercr. Ho never dares to kill fly. for fear of assailing the soul of one of his ancestors. which may perhaps animate this insect. When, on journey, Cnlmuck perceives . certain bird which he esteems to be a good augury, he rejoices in this conjuncture. does not fail fo manifest his satisfaction, and bows himself three times.
 As soon as he perceives a hare. on the con-
 . a blow in the air with his stick, in order to exercise the misfortune which might happen
 For the world he would not pick up a steel
 for striking light found upon the way. To
 seat himself upon the threshold of the door.
 or warm his feet before the fire. he holds
 great impiety; and if it happens to anyone to
 light his pipe with paper. it Is certain that hc
 will soon die.
 Being exclusively occupied in raising cattle.
 AL rs ss- .fx< U,I se A Et.rs~
 which is a commune. more or less numerous
 composed of many families united by bonds
 of relationship never remains more than two
 or three wceks..in the same place. Transnig-
 ration from one place 10 anothcris real feast
 to the Calmucks. All their goods incluilng
 their tents, are loaded upon the back of .
 camel, and covered over with piece of drap-
 cry if the family is in easy circumstances.
 The women and girls. in holiday dress. ss
 well as the young boys. drive the fiocks. The
 little infants are placed in panniers. which
 are attached to the sides of the loaded camels and the mother who is sucking is mounted on the top with her infant. The men
 horseback take the lead, and conduct the caravan. Tho march, which sometimes lasts many days, does not tire tho Calmucks: md thoy often divert themselves with songs and stories.
 The arrangement of the interior docs not require much pains or time. Opposite the door they put up against the side of tho tent low couch. On the left of this is raised the grand baran the most sacred place in the habitation of . Calmuck. It is upon this that the object of his religious adoration are de- posted, as we'll as nll the treasures of his family Upon the spot in which this great baran is to be raised, they first spread the | coverings and caparisons of the horse equi- page and saddles; upon these are placed covers with cloths; these being covered over with a drapery, they deposit last of all the trunks in which are kept tho Calmuckis idols. | These being withdrawn from tho trunks and placed upon the draperies, n sort of altar is ! raised. It is a little wooden table upon which they arrange many little dishes of silver and copper, intended to receive offerings, cheese, gruel, and different kinds of incense. Lastly, before this little table they plant in the soil piece of wood surmounted with small silver | cup. It is in this that the head of the family deposits the first morsel of every dish that is ! eaten during the common meal. In the family life of the Calmucks, the mar riase of a son or daughter is n principal oc- casion of rejoicing and of feasts. Tho choice among the Calmucks belongs entirely to the parents. Still there is no constraint upon this point, and if the son declares that the | selection of his parents displcases him there | is no further question about the matter. In considering marriage as the most serious and gravc act of life, the Calmucks never under ! take it without the benediction of their priest. I As soon as he, after having consulted tho | consultations under which the afflanced were | born, declares that there are no obstacles to I their marriage, one of the elder relatives on \ the part of tho boy, repairs 10 the parents of the girl and, after having rcgaled them with eau de vie announces the object of his visit.
 It is rare that refusal takes plaoe in these cases.
 The day of the marriage the young man.
 with his assistants, well provided with wine
 ;ind viands, repairs to his future fathcr-in-
 l aw's, where they make great feast. When { he feast in concluded he is invited into the
 tent of his betrothed, where is exposed her
 entire dowry, which they shortly send 10 his
 klaoton. Sometimes the entrance is guarded by the companions of the betrofhed, armed
 wi th sticks, so that the youth often has great difficulty in gaining an entrance. In order to
 avoid the blows which threaten him, he offers sweetnleats to the guard. When this guard
 is satisfied, the young man carries away his
 bel rothed, places her behind him upon his
 saddle and repairs to the khoton of his par ents.
 Here there has been early prepared a tent to receive the newly married people, and it is before this that the following marriage ccrc- mony is performed: Before the entrance they spread a carpet and upon this is put quilt of white felt. Behind the carpet is found the table with the idols, before which is placed in an offering dish a shoulder Of mutton, as an emblem of riches. The affianced, surround. ed with acquaintanccs and relatives, place themselves before the sacred table; the priest recites many prayers. after which he seats himself upon the carpet. takes the fold which I veils the face of the girl, envelopes in it tho shoulder of mutton and presents it to her. The young man takes it in his left hand, and his bctrothed in the right Then the priest after having pronounced many more prayers. 4 raises the two affisnced up and recommends II them to bow three times to the earth. M They execute these motions without relin- II auishing the shoulder of mutton, which they RI continue to hold in their hands. and, in mak- Al ing each reverence, they pronounce the fol-
 lowing words:
 \ "I incline myself this first time to adore my N Lord God, who is my father and my mother. N "I incline myself this second time to adore N my sun, which is the light of my beloved day; N and my moon, which is the light of my be- II loved night.
 "we swear to love ono another. to respect