Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-27
PEOPLE IN NORTH CHINA.

Wild Tribe of Russians Located In
Mongolia.
From the Pail Mall Gazette.
Far away to the north Of the Desert of
Cobb, where the SATAN range splits the
tributary waters Of the rising Yenisei and
the Chinese empire melts into Russian Sibe-
ria. right at the topmost corner of Mon
golia. lies the territory Of the little-known
Siyots. Three hundred years ago, when
the pale-faced Russians broke into Siberia,
the Siyots fed before them. They alone
would not bend the knee to Russia. South
ward they fled over the Saianski passes
into the kingdom Of the dragon, donned the
pigtail and became Chinese, dispossessing
in their hurry a fine race of people
The Siyots of today are divided into two
classes with diverse conditions. Those of
the north. inhabiting the slopes of the
SATAN, are hunters, worshipers Of devils,
eating meat and even carbon. Those of
the south. who dwell upon the plains, are
herders of horses and cattle, Buddhists by
religion, men of clearly habits, eating only
milk and millet seed.
So wild and desolate Is the region of the
Siyots that even the government maps are
utterly wrong about It. Rivers are omit
ted. misplaced and transposed; errors of
seventy to a hundred miles are common.
Even the intrepid Prjevalsky, who passed
through Uliassutai. Kobdo and Uurga, did
not turn aside into this great northern
waste A strange face is never seen there
and life goes by queer ancestral customs.
The Styots live in round "karals," or
tents, built Of movable lattice, with a felt
covered cOnical top. Inside is a neat hex-
agOnal arrangement of boxes or cupboards
wherein the stores are kept. Very scorn.
full are they OF the barbarous Turbets their
nearest neighbors, who have no boxes in
their tents. and are otherwise uncivilixed.
What manner of Doors are these7" asked
n q rf,of
ment; they tether their horses to their
tents, instead of erecting q horse-stick!
They deserve to have their tents pulled,
about-SAeir ears" Even less compliment
airy were his remarks upon the Turbet
women, who wear blue smocks instead Of
the gay green Knockers Of his own girls,
and do not plat their hair.
The religious customs Of the Siyots are
not their least interesting feature. Every
where, on the banks Of rivers or at the
top Of difacult pass, are stones or sticks
adorned with little rags. Sometimes wisps
Of horse hair are attached to them These
are god sticks and are an Offering to the
demon Of the place for averting the dan
gers OF crossing. Whenever 6iyot acted
as mountain guide or forded a river he ex-
pressed his gratitude for safety by adding
quota to the god stick" or at least By
placing upon cairn one stone for each
and smallpox II very prevalent among
them-he calls In medicine man to drive
away the devil The medicine man q
dressed In long red robe, adorned with
Imitation snakes. brass ornaments and
fanery. Beating drum he yells an night
In the chamber Of the sick man, turnine
and twiriing upon his heels.
Finally he falls exhausted In . sort Of
trance. biting bis lips % that blood =
srsd to s. IN ths very oct q sxoscism.
Vaccination, lately introduced By the Has,
oeAno and IL 1ArtnED, = aald 70 b. inter.