KALMUCKS, or, as they call themselves, thd Derben-Ueirat (the four relatives), and also designated by the name cf Eleutes and Khalimik (apostates), are the most numerous and celebrated of the Mongol nations. are divided into four tribes, the first of which. the Khoslaits (wa•:iors), number nearly 00,000 families, ano inhabit the country round the Koko-nur, which they consider the native country of the race. One portion of this tribe migrated to the banks of the Irtisch, and became subsequently incorporated with the second tribe, the Dzithesurs; another portion migrated to the banks of the Volga, in the 17th c., and is found at the present day in the government of Astrakhan. The second tribe are the Dsiinga•s, who give the name to a large territory (Dzangaria) in the w. of Chinese Tartary; at the present day they number about 20,600 families. The third tribe are the Derbets or Tchoros, who deserted Dzfing,aria, and finally, to the num ber of 15,000 families, removed a few years ago to the plains of the Ili and the Don, where they are rapidly incorporated with the Dour Cossacks. The fourth great tribe of the Kahmas are the Torqots, who, about 1660, separated from the Dzfingars, and settled in the plains of the Volga, whence they were called the Kahnueles of the Volovt; but finding the Russian rule too severe, the majority returned to Dzfingaria.
No Mongol or Turkish race presents such characteristic traits as the Ralmucks; indeed, they answer exactly to the description given of them by Jornandes 13 centuries ago. when, under the name of Huns, they devastated southern Europe. The Kalmuck is short in stature, with broad shoulders and a large head; has small, black eyes, always appearing to be half shut, and slanting downwards towards the nose, which is flat, with wide nostrils; the hair is black, coarse, and straight, and the complexion deeply swarthy. The Kalmuck is considered to be the'original type of the Mongol and Mandril races, and his ugliness is the index of the purity of his descent. They are a nomad, predatory, and warlike race, and pass the greater part of their lives in the saddle. Their usual food is barley-flour soaked with water, and their drink is the "koumiss" (made from fermented mare's milk), In 1829 Russia established a Kalmuck institute for the t raining of inter preters and government officials for the Kalmneks of Russia, and she has since been making great efforts to introduce civilization among them. Most of the Kalmucks are Buddhists, but a few have adopted Mohammedanism or Christianity.