The Calmucks are distinguished from the other nations of Asia, by their peculiar habits and appearance. They are, in general, of a middle size, athletic, and well made ; and the only defect which is common among them, is their having the thighs and legs somewhat bent. Their countenance is at first extremely forbidding ; a large head, round face, dark olive complexion, high and pro minent cheek bones, small sparkling black eyes, widely separated from each other, a flat broad nose, scarcely rising above the level of the face, and turned up, expos ing to view two immense nostrils, thick and fleshy lips, exceedingly white teeth, a short chin, a thin and scanty beard, and black coarse hair, tied up in a long queu be hind, are the characteristic features of a Calmuck. Fright ful as this picture may appear to us, it is those who pos sess these characters in the highest degree, that are re garded among them as the most beautiful. Many of the women, however, have rather agreeable features, and very delicate complexions, which are set off by the fine black of their hair ; and some of the higher classes among them would even be considered as beauties by Europeans. The dress of the men consists chiefly of a shirt and drawers, made of cotton, or sometimes of sheep skin ; a small round bonnet trimmed with fur, and orna mented with a tuft of silk, or horse hair of a red colour, and immensely large boots. They have also a kind of doublet made of sheep-skin, and without sleeves, which, in the northern provinces, they wear over the shirt. In summer many of them go entirely naked, except a cloth bound round their waist. A cotton shirt is the only dress of the women during the summer ; and, in winter, a long cloak of sheep-skin, and a bonnet the same as that of their husbands. They wear in their ears shells and large mock pearls, of a very irregular shape. The married women have their hair braided, which falls over their shoulders on each side of the face, and fastened at the end with bits of lead or tin, while a virgin has only a sin gle braid hanging down the middle of her back. When equipped for war, however, many of the Calmucks wear a helmet of steel, with a gilded crest, from which hangs a net-work of iron rings as low as the eyebrows in front, and falling behind over the neck and shoulders. Their bodies are protected by a coat of mail, formed of iron or steel rings nutted together, which adapts itself to the shape, and yields readily to all the positions of the body. 'I hese arc manufactured in Persia, and are reckoned as equal in value to fifty horses. But a cheaper sort, made of scales of till, sell for only six or eight horses. Their arms arc bows and arrows, lances, sabres, and poig Dards. Fire-arms are confined to the higher orders, and are kept with great care. Their best bows are made of the wild goats horn or whalebone, and the com mon kind of maple, or thin slips of elm or fir fastened together, and bound with a covering of linden or birch bark.
The Calmucks are of a social and hospitable disposi tion, Lith•ul to their chiefs, exceedingly affable, and eager to oblige. They possess a vivacity and good hu mour, which never forsakes them„ even in their most wretched state ; for a Calmuck is scarcely ever seers dejected by sorrow, and is never subdued by despair. They are, however, slovenly and dirty in the extreme, completely destitute of true courage, and greatly ad dicted to cheating. " Within the tent," says Dr Clarke, " we found some women, though it was difficult to dis tinguish the sexes, so horrid and inhuman was their appearance. Two of them, covered with grease, were lousing each other ; and it surprised us, that they did not discontinue their work, or even look up as we entered."— " The old women," continues this celebrated traveller, " were eating raw horse flesh, tearing it off from large hones, which they held in their hands. Others, squatted on the ground, were smoking, with pipes not two inches in length, much after the manner of the Laplanders."
But these defects ought in some measure to be forgot ten, in the many good qualities which they possess, and which render them so superior to the Mahometan Tar tars. Robberies are very rare among them, except against a hostile tribe, and murder is almost unknown. They pay great respect to old age ; and though of a choleric temperament, and exceedingly fierce when irri tated, they live more amicably together than could be expected from their independent and migratory manner of life. If any one receives a present of meat or drink, he divides it faithfully with his companions; and if a re lation has lost his flocks or other substance, by war or accident, he is sure to be most liberally assisted. " A Calmuck, provided with a horse," says Professor Pallas, with arms and equipage, may ramble from one place to another for three months together, without taking with him either money or provisions. 'Wherever he comes, he finds either distant relations or friends, to whom he is attached by the tics of hospitality, from whom he meets with the kindest reception, and is entertained in the best manner their circumstances afford. Perhaps he lodges in the first unknown cottage he finds upon his road ; and scarce has he entered it, but his wants are supplied with the most affectionate cordiality. Every stranger, of whatever nation, never fails to be well received by a Calmuck ; and he may depend upon having his effects in the greatest security, the moment he has put himself under the protection of his host ; for to rob a guest is considered by the Calmucks as the most abominable of all crimes." The tents of the Calmucks, which are their only habi tations, and are in general use from the prince to the peasant, are all of a circular form, with a conical roof, and a hole at the top. They arc constructed of cane or wood, and covered with felt, made of camel's hair or wool. Those of their chiefs are large and well furnish ed, having the floors covered with mats or Indian carpets, and their beds hung with rich curtains. An encampment of their principal hordes presents the appearance of a city, with regular streets, sometimes extending a mile in length ; and containing numerous shops, NS liere seve ral of the more refined arts are practised in considerable perfection. They have artificers in copper, brass, and iron ; sometimes goldsmiths, who make trinkets for their women, idols of gold and silver, and vessels for their altars ; also, persons who are expert at inlaid work, enamelling, &c. " One very remarkable fact," says Dr Clarke, " and which I should hesitate in asserting, if I had not found it confirmed by the observations of other travellers," is, that from time immemorial, the Oriental tribes of Calmucks have possessed the art of making T gunpowder. They boil the efflorescence of vitrat of potass in a strong ley of poplar and birch ashes, and leave it to crystallize ; after which, they pound the crys tals with two parts of sulphur and as much charcoal ; then, wetting the mixture, they place it in a caldron over a charcoal fire, until the powder begins to granu late." Upon the breaking up of an encampment, which, in summer, is generally clone every eight or ten clays, in order to go in search of fresh pasture, their first care is to dispatch sonic of their people, to find out a proper si tuation for the tents of the than, the lama, and for the huts containing the idols. The tents arc then struck, and, being so made as to take to pieces and fold up in a small compass, are packed upon the backs of the camels or oxen. The camel that is loaded with the most pre cious furniture is decorated with bells, and marches be fore, the rest following one behind another. On these occasions, the women arc dressed in their best clothes ; and beguile the tediousness of the journey with merri ment and songs.