CHAPTER II.

POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY.

Religion.-ECCLESIASTC GEOGRAPHY.-GOVERNMENT.-LAWS.

POPULATION.-COLONIES.-ARMY.-NAVY,—-REVENUES.--POLITICAL IMPORTANCE AND RELATIONS.

RELIGION. THE Grecian system of the Christian faith, which is embraced by the Russians, has made inconsiderable progress in their Asiatic possessions. Many of the Tatar tribes in the south-west are Mahometans; and others follow the superstition of Dalai Lama, of which an account shall be given in the description of the Chinese empire. But the more eastern Tatars are generally addicted to the Schaman religion, a system chiefly founded on the self-existence of matter, a spiritual world, and a general restitution of all things. The Schamanians even believe that the Burchans, or gods themselves, arose from the general mass of matter and spirit. Their epochs of destruction and restitution somewhat resemble those of the Hindoos. While common souls immediately receive their final decree, the virtuous become chubils, or wandering spirits, who are purified by transmigration, so as also to become Burchans, or gods. Between men and gods are the Tengri, or spirits of the air, who direct sublunary affairs, and all the trifles so important to man, but beneath the most remote attention of the gods. The infernal regions chiefly contain those who have offended the priesthood. This system is intimately connected with that of the Dalai Lama, and is so widely diffused that some have asserted Schaman'sm to be the most prevalent system on the globef. In Asiatic Russia it is professed by most nations, as a great part of the Tatars, with the Fins, Samoieds, and Ostiaks, the Mandshurs, and Burats, and Tunguses; and has even passed to the Coriaks, and Techucks, and people of the eastern isles. The population indeed of Asiatic Russia scarcely exceeds five millions, but many of the Chinese are Schamanians, and the system is intimately connected with that of the Brahmins, or rather of Boodh. On the eastern coast of the sea of Baikal is the rock of the Schamans, an idol of a singular shape, and among the inferior spirits may be named the Garan, or aquatic faries, the Ilguirki

• Tooke's Russia, 1~83. iv. 42.

In his first volume Mr. Tooke asserts that this system is the parent of Erahminism: and that the Schamanians are by Strabo called Germanians, by Clemens Alexandrinns Surmaniant, by Purphry Samanians.

Tooke's Russia, 1783, iii.

those of the earth, Temir Kam those of the mountains, and Vodasch those of the forest*. But as the Schamanians admit one chief infernal deity and his subalterns, authors of evil, so they believe in one supreme uncreated beneficent being, who commits the management of the universe to inferior deities, who delegate portions of it to subaltern spirits. With more philosophy they might suppose that evil cannot exist except in matter, and that an evil spirit is a contradiction in terms. It might afford a subject of curious inquiry to investigate whether Schamanism be the parent of the Boodian, and Brahmin system, as some suppose, preserved in its original state among these barbarous tribes: or only a corruption of those diffused from India. Few literary topics can be more interesting, as it would not only embrace the sources of the Hindoo mythology, but also those of classical paganism.

The archiepiscopal see of Tobolsk is the metropolitan of Russian Asia in the north, and that of Astracan in the south. There is another see that of Irkutsk and Nershinsk; and perhaps a few others of recent foundation.

Government.

Siberia is divided into two great governments, that of Tobolsk in the west, and Irkutsk in the east. The smaller provinces are Kolivan, Nershinsk, Yakutsk, and Ocbotsk. In the south-west is the government of Caucasus, with one or two other divisions, intermingling Europe and Asia. At a distance from the capital the government becomes proportionably lax, and tribute is the chief mark of subjection.

Population. The population of Siberia cannot be computed at above three millions and a half*: so that Europe can in future have little to apprehend from the Tataric swarms.

Colonies.

Small Russian colonics have been established jn several of the distant provinces and isles.

The political

POLITICAL IMPORTANCE AND RELATIONS. importance and relations of this part of the Russian empire chiefly relate to China and Japan. The late empress had it is said, projected the conquest of Japan, which might perhaps have imparted a spirit of industry to her continental possessions in that quarter; and it was computed that 10.000 Russians could have conquered China. But the subjection of many parts of what was called Independent Tatary have given to China a military frontier, and the proximity to Pekin the capital being so much greater, the Chinese efforts would be speedy and probably decisive; while the march of Russian rcinforcements through such wide and ban-en regions, would be difficult and hazardous. In fact, on settling the frontier, the Russians were overawed by superior numbers, though it is probable, that at no distant period, the river Amur, also called the Sagulien Oula, may be established as the boundary. The conquest of Japan, though more difficult than may have been conceived, affords many commercial temptations, but that of China would seem too vast even for the most grasping ambition. It is also asserted, that the late empress, in case of a war with England, meditated to scud an army from her Asiatic possessions to Hindostan,

Tooke's View, ii. 132.

through the provinces on the east of the Caspian, by Samarcand, and Cashmir to the Ganges. This indeed would be but a trifling effort compared with the marches of Zingis, Timur, and other oriental chiefs. But the mode of warfare is greatly changed. When Voltaire instigated Catharine to seize Constantinople, she replied that an epic poet easily might; but that modern armies consist of men who eat, and all her power could not produce magazines of provisions. This difficulty would be found far more cogent in a march of greater length, except that the powers in the north of India were unanimous in the favour of the Russians.

CHAPTER III.

CIVIL GEOGRAPHY.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

LANGUAGE.—LITERATURE.--EDUCATION.

-CITIES AND TOWNS. MANUFACTURES AND COMMERCE.

Manners Ann Customs. THE manners and customs of Asiatic Russia vary with the numerous tribes, by whom that extensive region is peopled. The Tatars properly so ealled, are the most numerous, not only remaining in their ancient kingdom of Sibir, but constituting many other tribes in the west, as the Nogays, the Kirguses or Kaizacks, the Bashkirs, and other tribes as far as the sources of the river Ob. Next in importance are the Monguls, of whom one tribe the Kalmuks, are found to the west of the Caspian; while the others, called Buruts, Tonguts, &c., are chiefly around the sea of Baikal. Yet further to the east are the Mandshurs, ov Tonguses. Such are the three radically distinct divisions of men, whom former European ignorance classed under the general name of Tartars.

The manners of the Tatars, who are the same people with the Huns of antiquity, arc minutely described by those authors who have delineated the fall of the Roman empire, prior to which period they seem to have been absolutely unknown to the ancients, though many modern authors have erroneously confounded them with the Scythians of Herodotus, and other Gothic tribes, who were afterwards vanquished, or expelled by the Tatars. Nor are the Seres, a mild industrious race, to be regarded as Tatars, but as, perhaps, northern Hindoos. It would be superfluous to enter into a detail of the manners and customs of the various nations in Asiatic Russia, for which the reader may be referred to the works of Pallas, and other recent travellers. In so ample a theme the difficulty is to select; and the manners of the Monguls may be chosen as a specimen. Those of the Russian empire arc whollv Nomadic, their herds consisting of horses, camels, oxen, sheep, and goats. The women tan leather, dig the culinary roots, prepare the winter provisions, dried or salted, and distil the koumiss, or spirit of marc's milk. The men hunt the numerous beasts, and game, that roam through the vast wilds. Their tents are formed of a kind of felt, and in some parts they erect little temples, and the priests have also

* The Bucharian Janguage has not been investigated.

wooden hovels around the temples. The Kalmuks arc divided into three ranks: the nobility, whom they call white bones; the common people, who are bondmen, and termed black bones; and the clergy, descending from both, who are free*. In like manner the noble ladies are called white flesh; and the common women black flesh: but pedigrees are only reckoned by the bones. The power of the TaidsAa^ or chief prince, consists solely in the number and opulence of his subjects, territory being of no estimation in so wide a region. These subjects form an Oluts, divided into Imaks, from 150 to SOO families; each Imak being commanded by a Saissan, or noble. If there be a great Khan, or emperor, the princes are only guided by him in affairs of general importance. The tribute is about a tenth part of the cattle, and other property; but on the first summons every man must appear on horseback before the prince, who dismisses those who are unfit for the fatigues of war. The weapons are bows, lances, and sabres, and sometimes fire arms; and the rich warriors are clothed in mail of interwoven rings, like that used in Europe till the fifteenth century4 But they cannot oppose regular armies, and are apt even to disorder that of their allies.

The Monguls are rather short in stature, with flat visage, small oblique eyesf, thick lips, and a short chin, with a scanty beard. The ears are very large and prominent, the hair black, and the complexion of a reddish, or yellowish brown; but that of the women is clear, and of a healthy white and red. They have surprising quickness of sight and apprehension; and are docile, hospitable, beneficent, active, and voluptuous. Industry is a virtue entirely female; yet great, and accompanied with perpetual cheerfulness. Their religious books are in the dialect of Tangut, or Tibet, and there is a schoolmaster in every Imak, who imparts more knowledge to the boys than would be expected. Marriages are celebrated at an early age; and the bride brings a dower in cattle, or sheep. The tent has a fire place in the middle; and in the deserts dried cow dung is used for fuel. The tents of the nobles are hung with silk, and the floor covered with carpets of Persia. The household utensils are numerous; and in the superior tents are vessels of pewter, silver, and porcelain. The dress consists of a flat yellow bonnet, while the head is shaven, except one lock. The trowsers are wide, the vest of light stuff with narrow sleeves, and a girdle which supports the sabre, knife, and implements for smoking tobacco. The outer garment is of cloth, with wide sleeves, and linen is wound about the feet, over which arc drawn buskins of leather, generally black or yellow. Shirts are unknown: and the dress of the women is the same, but instead of the outer garment they wear a gown without sleeves. The hair of the females is long, and plaited in tresses. Animal food is abundant, and sometimes mixed with vegetable; while the general drink is water; but they sometimes indulge in sour milk, prepared after the Tatarian manner, buttermilk, and koumiss, but mead and brandy are now greater favourites. When

• Tooke, iv. 14.

†The eye ascending towards the temples, like the Chinese, seems a peculiar feature of the Monguls and Mandshurs. The Tatar eye is small, bur straight, or horiaontal.

VOL II.