The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-07
CALMUCK WOOL GRowERs.
1t 10 Not Easy to Decide from What Coun-
try Their Product Comes.
From The Wool Record and Tsrth Nsws.

From The Wool Record and Ttztik Neus.
One OF the most difficult tasks OF Government
employees Is to locate accurately tho country
in which imported wool is produced. This only
applies to districts where wool growing is con-
Quoted on what Custom House officials have
rightly termed unciviltzed principles, which
includes the tribes and bands OF Indians and
gypsies who wander aimlessly about from one
country to the other as Providence dictates.
Central Asia furnishes some typical examples Of
wandering herders. particularly the Calmucks.
A consignment OF 4Ol pounds of Calmuck wool
was received at the New York Custom House
recently from a port on the Black Sea. Fortu-
nateiy the officials were not called upon to locate
the country in which 1t was grown. II this do
mand had been made they would have been
compelled to name at least three countries. As
1t was they gave Calmuck as the imaginary
country OF production. and no further explana-
ton was necessary. as wool dealers and manu-
1acturers are well acquainted with the eccen-
trio habits OF these wandering Aslatic tribes.
The Calmucks arc continually on the move
stopping only at places where grazing is album
dant. When the season for shearing approac6"s
hInbe syv locate snr soI near ne most convenient port.
port twice In succession. ~
tv phe ana Gslm aTs i0s are a a people tSo Of the Monaghan
Asia ior I4e ga are {, Of middle height, fairly pro-
pDiIihotiNh'a hu VI cOlhlutTuDle strength. THAR
cheek bones are prominent, nose turned up. ths
beard thin. and the hair scrubby. They i've In IN
Gonicqli felt tents, which they set up In rernlar
lines Ike the streets OF a town. Their wealth
consists entirely OF small but high-snirited
horses excellent cattle. and broad-taiIed
rough hoeccd sheep. "ieu'
The Calmucks have many vices. Gamblino
IL the most prominent. and they are so mucb
addicted 10 the habit that they frequently stska
everything they possess. -
Inc bhearihE season marks the bepinninD NJ
a long period o. merrymaking, EamblInn ~
COURSE hsing the principal dive Tsion, Thev
are skiltul n the art OF shearing, and comhiSs
business, with pleasure by gambling on The
speed 81 two or more OF the most adem4
shearers. 4 Calmuck may begin his sheaTinT
II comparatively wealthy man and end mn
VIII ms possessions in the hands ~
his more fortunate opponents. Tint TIA
Salmmekf neyer get discouraged over losses
by, %amhiinE, After losing all, with tho
aid OF Allah they start out confident Of re ~
eupeTatiRg their lost fortunes, and il So hanne6s
that WITHIN u years time they are i'm possassinn
OF more wealth than when their misfnrtmnns
overlook them. But there is no cure for Vnn,t
bling among those wandering tribes fhmv
keep on gamhling as long as they have anythInS
20 "a m bic with, and starting with a thogonghHs
bred they sometimes end up with stalking MARI
OF the clothes they have On, The tribes have no
The total number Of Caimucks In tn, Russtsn
Empire may be estimated az 2UU,OOO. In tba
Chinese territory. whore they are known a
precisely known. NV