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KAMA

987

KANDAHAR

chiefly in flocks and herds. In Russia there now are about 120,000 Kalmucks, living mostly in Astrakhan. In religion most are Buddhists, but some are Mohammedans and a smaller number Christians.

Kama (kd'ma), the principal branch of the Volga, rises in the Russian province of Vyatka, and after an almost circular course of 1,000 miles joins the Volga about 40 miles below Kazan. The Kama is navigable from Perm, a distance of over 900 miles. It is free from ice a little more than half the year, and is one of the most important highways of commerce between Siberia and St. Petersburg.

Kamchatka, (kdm-chdt'ka), also spelled Kamschatka, a peninsula of eastern Siberia, stretching into the Pacific, between Bering Sea on the east and the Sea of Okhotsk on the west. It covers an area of nearly 150,000 square miles, although the population is under 10,000. Fishing and hunting constitute the chief occupations of the inhabitants, and furs are the most valuable production of the peninsula. Kamchatka was annexed to Russia at the close of the 17th century; and in 1855 was incorporated with the maritime province of Siberia. See Kennan's Tent-Life in Siberia.

Kamehameha (kd-me-hd'me-hd), the name of five kings of the Hawaiian Islands, who ruled successively from 1811 to 1872, except during the regency of two queens of Kamehameha II in 1824-33. Kamehameha II was the first king who became undisputed sovereign of the entire group. He died in 1819, a few months before the first American missionaries sailed for his country. Kamehameha III, who reigned from 1824 to 1854, is called Kamehameha the Good, on account of his liberal disposition toward his people and his active interest in their welfare. In 1840 he adopted a written code of laws and in 1852 a written constitution. Under his liberal administration a large portion of the common people became owners of land in fee simple. Great progress was made in religion, education and commerce during the 30 years of his reign. He died on Dec. 15, 1854. See HAWAII.

Ka'merun', a German colony in western Africa, north of French Congo, which was acquired in 1884. It has an area of 191,130 square miles, with a population estimated at 3,500,000, chiefly Bantu and Sudanese negroes, the whites numbering less than 1,000. The colony extends northeastward to Lake Chad, and has a coast line on the Bight of Biafra of 200 miles. Gold and iron have been found. The exports are rubber, ivory, horns, cocoa and oil fruits. Its name is derived from the river, which enters the Bay of Biafra by an estuary over 20 miles wide, and for a considerable distance is nearly a mile wide. The swamps along its banks make the climate trying for Europeans, but the country is very fertile.

Northwest of the river's mouth lie the Kamerun Mountains, a volcanic group which in one peak, Mongoma Lobdh, the Mount of the Gods, reaches the height of 13,746 feet.

Kam'imu'ra, the Japanese vice-admiral who was appointed to blockade the Russian port of Vladivostock while Togo blockaded Port Arthur, won for himself a reputation second only to that of Togo. During the early part of the war he once or twice allowed the Russian fleet within the harbor to evade him. He encouraged this fleet to attempt to unite with the Port Arthur ships; intercepted them on Aug. 14, 1904; and sank the cruiser Rurik during a long stern chase, driving the other vessels back to port. In the great battle of the Sea of Japan on May 27 and 28 Vice Admiral Kamimura directed the armored cruiser squadron which annihilated the Russian cruisers.

Ka'mloops, a town in British Columbia, situated at the confluence of the Thompson Rivers. It is the center of supply for a large mining and grazing district. Population 2,000.

Kana'kas are the geople who were found inhabiting the Hawaiian Islands when Cook discovered them in 1778. They are reddish brown in color, with black and straight hair, sometimes a little wavy, thin beards, the face broad, with a rather flat sideview or profile, the nose somewhat flattened and the lips thick. They are of only moderate height, except the chiefs and their families, who are remarkably tall and large. When discovered, they were given to barbarous customs, as the killing of superfluous infants, human sacrifices and the eating of the heart and liver of the conquered foe. Yet they naturally are good-tempered, light-hearted, fond of amusement and devoted to riding and swimming, especially to riding the heavy surf-breakers, in which they are remarkably expert. But the coming of the whites seems to have introduced habits of drunkenness and to have brought diseases against which their constitutions cannot stand. Cook thought there were 400,000 when he saw the islands first. In 1823 there were but 142,000; in 1872 42,000, and at present there are still fewer. The natives are giving way to Japanese and Portuguese laborers on the sugar-plantations.

Kandahar (kdn-dd-hdr'), the largest city in Afghanistan, is situated about 200 miles west of Kabul. Kandahar is a place of extensive commerce, and among its residents are a number of Hindu and Persian merchants. ^ The city is surrounded by a wall four miles in circumference, 25 feet in height and from 10 to 15 thick; and two miles north is a precipitous rock, crowned by a fortress impregnable to attack, save by the heaviest artillery. The town is sup-