The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-04-18
THE WANDERING KlRGHESE
PICTURESQUE NOMADS OF THE
STEPPES OF ASIA.
I'he Milking Hour is Their CHER
Amusement Marriage an Import
ant Adafr-A Rridess Dress

she Milking Hour is Their CHIEF
Amusement-M Marriage an Import
ant Affair-A Brides Dress.
HTHE Kirghese are a nomsdio
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 barbaric 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 BAN
boo or wicker huts, which are open to
the weather in summer, but in winter
are thatched 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 sRd
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 deerskln OF
their own curing, and add the smoke
| of their pipes TO the clouds that en-
anate from the fire, not mindlnS 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 n royal autocracy. They
are not warlike as are their neighbors
the Cossacks, and give much attention
to the hunt and q rude sort of agrlcul-
ture. Tie women, who dress almost
exactly like the men except on holl-
davs 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 variously to Europeans as
kumvs, 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 mannish costumes and high fur
hats-if it is winter-to milk ana
chatter. 1t is, then, labor of love,
since they all love kumys, which is
their substitute for whisky. 1t is
really a strong intoxicant when fer
mented with a mixture of asses milk,
goats milk and camels' milk, making
a liquor SO strong that one glass OF 1t
will upset temperate European
while a native will imbibe eight or ten
GLASSES before he loses his head. The
Kirphese sip their kumys with true
apnreciation of its exhilarating prop
critics. and all the time that can be
spared from eating Is set ASIDE lor
drinking, when men, women and chll'
dren alike participate.
When the Kirghese move their
quarters from one valley or mountain
to another they make it the occasion
of great hilarity and feastlng. Inen
the women wear the gay costumes OF
merrv-makers, riding horseback like
men. driving the herds before them,
among which the children are dis
tributed in paniers by themselves on
camels OF 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
x,erv imnortant affair. The bride has
little to say in the matter sne oe!hS
accepted by lover in consideration
/, of dowry of cameis and horses Wnen
the contract is made before the chief,
according to the laws of their religion,
which is Mohammedan. The bride Is
decked in the richest stutts, tor the
Kirphese are wealthy in the accumu-
lation of costly silks and jewels, which
are handed down from one genera
ton to another, to be worn per
haps but once in lifetime. II
= bride is married as her mother was be-
fore her, she will wear kslat oi
striped silk in all the gorgeous colofs
of the orient Her jacket VIII be
trimmed with bands of gold and silver
seduins, and her trousers tucked into
elegant boots of variegated leather,
while her fur cap will be studded with
! Jewels as big as the Koh-i-noor. The
: face will then be covered with ven
which has two slits for the eyes, and
these untaught daughters of Eve can
1 manage a veil in the most coquettlsI
+ and fascinating manner so thal no AT
tractive feature is really concealed.
g The Kirghese is sovereign IN hl'
5 own right and never acknowledges
superior. When two of the men meet
the question first propounded rs TINS
g ''Who are thy seven ancestors! Inc
, answer is usually satisfactory as every
5 tribesman can recite his lineage a.
| smoothly as if it We're II memorlzel
: lesson. Like his prayers, 1t Is par
l of his mental being, for these nomad'
< are taught certain things trodltionally
s and never disturb these native posses
sions by any acquired knowledge
g They retain the fundamental truths
q and their khan, or tribal chief, doe
s the rest. Detroit Free Press.