Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-04-13
THE WANDERING KIRGHESE
PICTURESQUE NoMADS OF THE
STEPPES OF ASIA.
fhe Milking Hour is Their Chief
Amusement Marriage an Import
ant Affair-A Brides Dress.

ant Affair-A Brides Dress.
HHE Kirghese are nomadic
tribe, living in the steppes of
Asia, north of the. Caspian
Sea, and among the environs
of Issi-kul. They are one of the most
interesting and picturesque tribes Of
that wild and barparic country, for
the reason that they make no pretense
to civilization, yet live in comparative
comfort, with the same primitive Gus
toms which their ancestors maintained
before them. Their houses are bam-
boo or wicker huts, which are open to
the weather in summer, but in winter
are matched with heavy blankets of
their own manufacture and walled
with solid masses of snow fifteen feet
high. These are pressed against the
dwellings,, making them air-tight and
shutting out the severe cold of that
rigorous climate. A hole in the side
admits light, or at least as much of it as
those children of the wilds make use
of. Like the Indians, they sit or re-
cline about their fires on deerskin Of
their own curing, and add the smoke
of their pipes to the clouds that en-
anate from the fire, not mindins in
the least the sitting atmosphere.
To these nomads life is mostly a
holiday. Their laws are simple and
traditional, a chief settling all their
disputes with a royal autocracy. They
are not warlike as are their neighbors
the Cossacks, and give much attention
to the hunt and rude sort of agricul-
ture. Tie women, who dress almost
exactly like the men except on holi-
days or at weddings, do the greater
part of the domestic work. 1t is they
who manufacture in large quantities
that delightful beverage which is
known varfoSslv to Europeans as
kumys, koumiss, kumiss, and is made
of mares milk.
The evening and morning amuse-
ment of the Kirghese is the milking
hour. Then the herds of goats, camels,
mares and colts are driven in from
pasture, and the women turn out In
their manhish costumes and high fur
hats--if it is winter-to milk and
chatter. 1t is, then, labor of love,
since they all love kumys, which is
their substitute for whisky. 1t Is
really strong intoxicant when fer
mented with II mixture of asses milk,
goats milk and eauiels milk, making
liquor so strong that one glass of it
will upset temperate European,
while a native will lmbibe eight or ten
glasses before he loses his head. The
Kirghese sip their kumys with true
appreciation of its exhiiaratlng prop
critics. and all the time that can be
spared from eating Is set aside Tor
drinking, when men, women and chill
dren alike participate.
When the Kirghese move their
quarters from one valley or mountain
to another they make 1t the occasion
of great hilarity and feastlng Then
the women wear the gay costumes OF
merry makers, riding horseback like
men, driving the herds before them,
among which the children are dis
tributed in paniers by themselves on
camels or colts, the sagacious beasts
seeming to know that they are part OF
the family, and conducting themselves
with great discretion.
Marriage among the Kirghese is q
very important affair The bride has
little To say in the matter, sho being
accepted by lover in consideration
OF dowry of cameis and horses, when
the contract is made before the chief,
according to the laws of their religion,
which is Mohammedan. The bride is
decked in the richest stutis, for the
Kirghese are wealthy iii the accumu-
lation of costly silks and Jewels, which
are handed down from one genera
tion 10 another, to be worn per-
haps but once in lifetime. III q
bride is married Ms her mother was be-
fore her, she will wear kslat OF
striped silk in all the gorgeous colors
of the orient. Her jacket will be
trimmed with bands OF gold and silver
seauins, and her trousers tucked into
elegant boots of variegated leather,
while her fur cap will he studded with
Jewels as big as the koh-l-noor. Tho
face will then be covered with veil
which has two slits ior the eyes, aud
these untaught daughters of Eve can
manage veil in the most coquettish
aud fascinating manner So that nc at
traetive feature il really concealed.
The Kirehese Is sovereign m his
own right and never acknowledge a
superior. When two oi the men meet,
the question hrst propounded - THIS
"Who are thy seven aneestorsf The
answer il usually satisfactory, ~ every
tribesman can recite hts lineage -
smoothly as It ~ were mom"fihed
lesson. like has prayers, ~ - part
ot his mentsl being, Tor these nalna'is
are taught certain things traditionaliY,
and never disturb these native posses
aons by aus acquired knoSieflse
They retain the Fundamental truths,
and their khan. or tribal chlci daes
tue rect. Detroit tfuo ffess
The Iaimnd