Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/765

 MONGOLIA 747 ripen because of the cold are now raised with success. In this part of Mongolia villages are frequent, and a portion of the native race have adopted a settled life. The greater part of the Mongols, however, are gradually retiring toward the north, and the Chinese population is rapidly taking their place. The Mongols belong to the so-called Turanian, Mongolian, or Uralo- Altaic division of mankind. Their branch, best designated as that of the Mongols proper, is composed of three families, of which the East Mongols are the inhabitants of the present territory of Mongolia; these are sub- divided into Shara Mongols, occupying the southern portion, and the Khalka Mongols, liv- ing in the north. The West Mongols, com- prising Calmucks, Torgots, and others, were driven out of their land at the time of Gen- ghis Khan, and a portion of them now lead a nomadic life in the steppes between the Volga and the Ural, while the others dwell on the slopes of the Altai mountains, and are generally known as Black Calmucks. On the Chinese frontier, in the region of the Lena, and frt>m the Onon as far as the Oka, is found the third family, called Buriats. Some Mon- gols proper, still speaking a Mongolian dialect, inhabit the northern portion of Iran, where they are known as Aimaks or Hezarehs. Though the name of Tartars is generally ap- plied also to Mongols proper, there can be no doubt that the Tartars form a distinct branch of the Mongolian or Turanian division. (See TURANIAN RACES AND LANGUAGES.) The pres- ent inhabitants of Mongolia are generally stout, squat, swarthy, and ugly, with high and broad shoulders, pointed and prominent chins, long teeth distant from each other, eyes black, ellip- tical, and unsteady, thick, short necks, bony and nervous hands, and short muscular arms. Their stature is equal to that of Europeans. They are, with few exceptions, nomadic, living in tents and subsisting on animal food. The Mongol tent for about 3 ft. from the ground is cylindrical ; it then becomes conical. The por- tion made of wood is a trelliswork of crossed bars which may be folded up or expanded. Above these, a circle of poles fixed in the trel- liswork meets at the top, like the ribs of an um- Over the woodwork is stretched a thick >vering of coarse felt. The door is low and irrow. At the top of the tent is an opening ' let out smoke, which can be closed by a piece felt hanging above it, to which is attached a >ng string. The interior is divided into two Dmpartments, that on the left being for the len, while that on the right is occupied by the romen and is also used as a kitchen, the uten- ) of which consist chiefly of large earthen ves- 1s for holding water, wooden pails for milk, id a large bell-shaped iron kettle. A small )fa or couch, a small square press or chest of rawers, and a number of goats' horns fixed in le woodwork, on which hang various utensils, and other articles, complete the furniture, msehold and family cares are assigned entire- ly to the women. The men conduct the flocks and herds to pasture. They sometimes hunt wild animals for food or for their skins, but never for pleasure. When not on horseback, the men pass their time in absolute idleness, sleeping all night and squatting all day in their tents, drinking tea or smoking. The only per- sons who learn to read are the lamas or priests, who are also the painters, sculptors, archi- tects, and physicians of the nation. The Mon- gol is so accustomed to horseback that when he sets foot on the ground his step is heavy and awkward, his legs bowed, his chest bent forward. The Mongols marry very young, and their marriages are regulated entirely by their parents. A plurality of wives is permit- ted, but the first wife is always the mistress of the household. Divorce is very frequent. The husband who wishes to repudiate his wife sends her back to her parents, without any formality except a message that he does not require her any longer. This does not give offence, as the family of the lady retain the cattle, horses, and other property given to them at the time of the marriage, and have an opportunity of sell- ing her to a fresh purchaser. The women come and go at pleasure, ride out on horseback, and visit freely from tent to tent. The chiefs of the Mongol tribes and all their blood rela- tives form an aristocracy who hold the common people in a mild species of patriarchal servitude. There is no distinction of manners or of mode of living between these classes ; and though the common people are not allowed to own land, they frequently accumulate considerable prop- erty in herds and flocks. Those who become lamas are entirely free. The ancient religion of the Mongols was a species of Shamanism, but in the 13th century they embraced Lama- ism. Their religious system at the present day is similar to that of Thibet, and they acknowledge the spiritual supremacy of the grand lama at Lassa. (See LAMAISM.) Mon- golia abounds in well endowed lamaseries con- structed of brick and stone, with elegance and solidity, and ornamented with paintings, sculp- tures, and carvings. The most famous is that of Urga or the Great Kooren, on the bank of the river Tola, in the country of the Khalkas. Thousands of lamas dwell in this lamasery, and the plain adjoining it is always covered with the tents of pilgrims. In these lamase- ries a strict monastic discipline is maintained, but each lama is at liberty to acquire prop- erty by any occupation not inconsistent with his priestly character. Nearly all younger sons of the free Mongols are devoted from infan- cy to the priesthood. Almost every lamasery of the first class has a living Buddha, who like the grand lama of Thibet is worshipped as an incarnation of the deity. The influ- ence of these personages is very great, and the Chinese emperors spare no pains to win over to their interest those who manage these dei- ties. The trade between China and Russia passes through Mongolia at Kiakhta. a town on