Russia, as Seen and Described by Famous Writers — John Shaqi
Russia, as Seen and Described by Famous Writers
Religion
Russia, as Seen and Described by Famous Writers
Russia
4. The Mongolo-Manzhourian race amounting to 400,000. Among this
race may be remarked the Mongolians properly so called, on the
Selenga; the Kalmucks, a nomad people in the Government of Astrakhan,
as also in Tomsk, in the country of the Don Cossacks, and partly
in the Government of Stavropol. The Kalmucks appeared first on
the eastern confines of Russia in the year 1630. About a century
later we find them become the regular subjects of the Tsar. They
seem, however, to have found the Russian yoke irksome, and resolved
to return to their original home on the coasts of Lake Balkach,
and at the foot of the Altai Mountains. Nearly the whole nation,
amounting to almost 300,000 persons, began their march in the winter
of 1770-71. The passage of this vast horde lasted for weeks, but the
rear were prevented from escaping by the Kirghiz and Cossacks, who
intercepted them. They were compelled to remain in Russia, where their
territory was more accurately defined than had been done previously.
The Kalmucks are obliged to serve with the Cossack troops, but
their duties are mostly confined to looking after the cattle and
horses which accompany the army. Their religion is Buddhism, and
a conspicuous object in the aouls, or temporary villages which
they construct, is the pagoda. Their personal appearance is by no
means prepossessing--small eyes and high cheekbones, with scanty
hair of a very coarse texture. In every sense of the word they
are still strictly nomads; their children and tents are carried
by camels, and in a few hours their temporary village, or oulous,
is established. To these also belong the Bouriats, by Lake Baikal;
the Toungusians from the Yenesei to the Amur; the Lamorets, by the
Sea of Okhotsk; and the Olentzi, in the Government of Irkutsk.
5. Races of eastern Siberia: the Koriaks, living in the north-eastern
corner of Siberia; the Youkagirs, in the territory of Yakutsk; the
Kamchadales, in Kamchatka. Their number amounts to 500,000.
6. The Turko-Tartar race amount in number to 3,000,000. To their
branch belong the Chouvashes, in the governments of Orenburg, Simbursk,
Saratov and Samaria; the Mordvinians, in the same governments as the
Chouvashes,[1] and in those of Tambov, Penza, and Nijni-Novgorod;
the Tartars of the Crimea and Kazan; the Nagais, on the Kouban
and Don; the Mestcheriaki, in the governments of Orenburg, Perm,
Saratov, and Viatka; Koumki, in the Caucasus; Kirghizi, Yakouti,
on the Lena; Troukhmentzi and Khivintzi; Karakalpaks (lit. Black
Caps), Teleouti, in the government of Tomsk, Siberia.
[Footnote 1: Some writers consider the Chouvashes to belong to the
Finnish race.]
7. The Caucasian races inhabiting Georgia, the valleys and defiles
of the Caucasian Mountains have different appellations and different
origins. Among them may be noticed the Armenians, Georgians,
Circassians, Abkhasians, Lesghians, Osetintzi, Chechentzi, Kistentzi,
Toushi, and others. Their number is about 2,000,000.
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