BASH KIRS, a people of the Russian empire, scat. tered along the banks of the Volga and Ural. Their country forms a part of the ancient Bolgaria ; and they seem to be descended partly from the Bolgares, mid partly from the Nogay Tartars. Without any fixed abodes, they wandered formerly along the south ern regions of Siberia, till the oppression of the Siberian khans obliged them to confine themselves within ,their present territories, and to court the pro tection of the khans of Kazania. When that go: vernment was subverted by Czar Ivan II., they vo luntarily assumed the Russian yoke ; though their subsequent revolts proved that their submission pro ceeded entirely from necessity. They now belong to the governments of Ufa and Perme ; and consisted about forty years ago of 2700 families. They are divided into at wolosts, or tribes, each of which elects for itself one, and sometimes two, ancients or star Ichinis. In their manners they differ but little from the other Tartars. Fond of the pastoral life, their principal wealth consists in their flocks, and in herds of cattle, horses, and camels. They pay particular at tention to the management of bees, in which they are very successful. Their hives, which, in general, are merely cavities in trees, are defended by many inge nious contrivances .from the attacks of the bears. A very small proportion of their lands is under tillage, and oats and barley are the only kinds of grain which they rear. These, with the milk and flesh of their
cattle, are the chief articles of their sublistenee.
The Bashkirs still retain a strong antipathy against the Russians, insomuch that they consider it a kind of national duty, when they are employed by them as guides, to conduct them through marshes, and places the most impracticable that they can find, The Russians, in their turn, are extremely jealous of the Bashkirs, and will not permit them to dwell on the mountains, that they may be able to keep a watchful eye over their conduct.
The troops of this nation are all horsemen, and are remarkably well mounted. They are armed with a bow, a•ance, a helmet, and a coat of mail ; and are besides provided by the Russians with sabres, mus kets, and pistols. In drawing the bow they display uncommon skill, and manage their horses with great dexterity. In times of war they are obliged to fur nish the Russian army with 3000 cavalry, which are divided into 30 troops, each consisting of 100 men. They are an indolent, slovenly, and simple people; but ara hospitable, lively. and brave. See Chantreaux' Travels, Tooke's View of the Russian Empire, Voy age de Pallas, Voyage de Gmelin, (fa)