In one of their games, the bones are placed at a short distance, and then projected forward by a stick thrown at them. This last is the amusement of men as well as of boys. Wrestling is performed much in the same manner as in England, excepting that they grasp each other by the sash, so that the position of the body is less upright. Kicking, I am told, is not allowed, and the only exertion of the wrestlers is an endeavour to throw each other by tripping up the heels. Horse-racing is a most favourite amusement with the Tatars, at all their weddings, and on every holiday. They have no stated course, however, and run to no stated distance. The manner in which the race is conducted is as follows : one of the party holding a handkerchief (the prize contended for) in his mouth, sets off at full speed, followed by one, two, or perhaps ten or twenty others. He who overtakes the first, snatches the prize, and is in like manner pursued by the rest, who all endeavour to get possession of the handkerchief, or at any rate to prevent the rider who bears it from effecting his return to the spectators. It becomes the property of him who retains it, till he can contrive to reach the horses of those who are engaged in observing the contest. Thus the race is shorter or longer, according to the number and success of the competitors. There is sure to be a full attendance at this amusement, whenever it may occur, but chiefly at their weddings, when every Tatar who possesses a tolerably good horse, considers himself called upon to display the skill of the animal and his own, in this popular and national diversion.
The Tatars ride well, and in their holiday clothes look very graceful on horseback ; but when they wear the large cloak calleda bourka, it givesa ferocity totheirappearancewhich isalmost alarming to those not accustomed to see them. These mantles are of felt, and resist the rain. They are manufactured in the Crimea from wool, and are either naturally of a rusty brown colour, or are dyed black. The Circassian bourkas are made of camel's or goat's hair, and are more expensive. The sheep-skin pelisses and lamb's-wool caps, which are assumed by the Tatars in winter, increase not a little their savage looks. Around the waist they wear either a long girdle, of white or coloured linen, or else a broad belt, very tightly fastened. On one side hangs a knife, and a tobacco bag and pipe are commonly slung behind. Thus accoutred, and having with him his flint, steel, and morsel of amadou*, the Tatar is ready for all expeditions. The use of fire-arms is not allowed them, and few remain possessed of the bows and arrows which were the national weapons of their forefathers. Maksout Murza has a bow which is formed entirely of bone.
\ * Amadou is a spungy substance used by theTatars instead of tinder, and with which they light their pipes : it is prepared from a fungus, growing on trees, which is boiled, and then beaten till it becomes tender, and afterwards dried. There is also a lighter kind, the excrescence of a plant.
The common shoes of the Tatar peasants are ofcow or ox hide undressed, which is cut in the form of a long oval, and sewn up at one end so as to cover the toes. The shoe is then drawn round the foot, and laced with string. In dry weather the Russian bark shoes are occasionally worn, and are considered very durable. The art of tanning and dying leather, is confined, I believe, to the towns ofBaktcheserai and Karasubazar, at which places nearly all the shoes used in the peninsula are made, and forwarded to the other bazars. At the former place there is also a manufactory for knives.
The remarkable mountain called Agirmish is in sight of Karagoss, and partly included in the estate on which I resided. It is conjectured by Pallas to be the Cimmerian mountain of the ancients, and certainly, from its detached and prominent appearance, it seems well to deserve a distinctive appellation. In the forest which clothes its summit is a perpendicular cave, which bears among the Tatars the name of the Devil's Well. It is said that, under the government of the Khans, criminals were sometimes sentenced to be thrown into this abyss. There is likewise a tradition, that on one occasion, when some millet was cast down for the sake of experiment, the seed made its re-appearance at a spring which rises near the post-station of Granitchkey.