The following is the enumeration of the principal Turkish tribes given by Dr. La tham: "1. Utquis.—On the Mongol frontier. Belonging to China. The were the first Turks that used an alphabet. Little known. 2. Turks qf the with Mongolia and Thibet. 3. Turks (f Ifhoten, Kasbgar, and Yarkend.
4. Kirghis.—Indepentlent, Tartary. The Kirghis (q.v.) form a portion of the population of the highest table-land in Asia—perhaps in the world—Pamir and the source of the Oxus. 5. Uzbeks (q.v.).--The Turks of Bokliara. 0. Turkomans.—The Persian frontier of Independent Tartary from Balkh to the Caspian. Pastoral robbers. 7. Ottoman or Osmanli.—The Turks of the Turkish empire. 8. .2Voriays.—The Turks of the parts between the Black sea and the Caspian, n. of Caucasus. 9. Turks of the Bussian Empire. —Bashleirs, Teptyars, Baraba, etc. Whh all these, although the language is Turk, there is good reason to believe that the original substratum is Finn. With the Bashkirs, this is generally considered to be the case. 10. Thc isolated Yakuts of the Lena." In physical appearance, all these tribes, with the exception of the Ottoman Turks, partake more or less of the Mongolian type. They have in general it broad, flat face, with prominent cheek-bones, the head from side to side nearly equal to its length front the forehead to the oceiput, the nose flat, the eyes small, the color of the skin yellowish, straight hair, little or no beard, and stature undersized. It is among the nomad and agricul tural Turks that these characteristics arc most prevalent, while among the more civilized they almost entirely disappear. Dr. Prichard quotes lieut.Wood's account of the Kirghis as a good average description of the primitive Turkish tribes. "In stature," he says, '• the
Kirghis are under the middle height; of it Z•,2y/ nriacring seven men, the tallest was It. 51 in. in height. Their countenance is disagreeable; the upper part of the nose sinks into the face, leaving the space between their deeply sealed and elongated (yes without the usual dividing ridge; the brow immediately above the eye is rrottiberant. but starts hack more abruptly than in Europeans; their cheeks, large and bloat:A, look as if pieces of flesh had been daubed upon them; a slender beard covers their chin; and in those individuals who have more luxuriant hair, the beard has a natural curl. 'I heir persons are not muscular. Their complexions are darkened by exposure to all weathers 'tither than by the sun. The women are rather good-looking, and of delicate form, 1:ke the Hazaras, and make goad wives." The Tanks of the Turkish empire, especially those of the upper classes, differ considerably from the type here described. The Ottoman Turks, in fact, both in feature, height, and general physical structure, bear a strong resemblance to other European nations. This is accounted for chiefly by the custom now prevalent among them for ages of intermarrying with Circassian females.
The various Turkish tribes speak very nearly the same language; "so much so, that the Yakut of the Icy sea is said to be intelligible to the Turks of central Asia, end even of Constantinople." In religion, the Turks are for the most part Mohammedans; but the Yakuts are Shamanists; the Turks bordering on the Chinese empire are Buddhists; and those of Siberia Christians of the Russo-Greek church.