There are very few instances among the hardy Swanny, of men who are above middle stature, while it may be inferred by the remarkable variety of type they everywhere present, that they cannot be the descendants of any particular race. One sees the handsome but debased oval face, well-defined nose, and black grizzly hair of the Mingrclian; the gaunt face and high cheekbones of the Abhase; the round, sensual, full face of the Georgian; the little Russian, the Tatar, and unmistakably the Nogar and Jew; there is also the clear blue eye and flaxen hair of the Northman. What better opportunity for scrutinizing the masses could there be than upon the occasion of an election, when every man and boy turns out, and a circle is formed around the Chief whilst he addresses them and investigates their differences. Is it unreasonable to deduce from the dissimilarity of type, that the pioscribed in ' For woids ill Ihe dialect uf the Swanny, ■xk Appendix XII.
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
other parts were wont to seek a ready refuge among an unscrupulous and lawless people in an inaccessible region, when fleeing from the pursuit of justice.
Such of the Swanny as resemble the Tatars and Nogal shave their heads above the temples and at the nape, also their faces except the upper lip, presenting a striking contrast to the bushy and matted hair and beard of the rest. At Mestye I noticed several lads with their heads completely shaven, except over a small space on the crown, whence was allowed to grow a long tuft similar to that worn by the Osmanli, which the Ar^^el of Death seizes to carry them off to paradise; we were unable to discover why this peculiarity in dressing the head was observed. The Zaparogue Cossacks wore similar tufts in the olden time, and they are still to be seen, though rarely, in South Russia.
There was repulsive evidence of a late epidemic of the smallpox, but we never noticed a single case of lameness, distortion, absence of limb, mutilation, or blindness, in any degree, the reason being, it is said, that deformities are destroyed at their birth. As the result of careful observation, I believe about one per cent of the population to be afflicted with gotlre, from the child of seven to the ripest age; when asked if they were able to account for the swelling, those so troubled replied that they could not say, one aged man answering that ' it was the will of God.'
The Swanny can scarcely be a long-lived people, for I never saw any of either sex who could have exceeded their sixtieth year; none could tell their own age. They complain of a disease that exhibits itself ' by pains in the chest, coughing, and spitting of blood,' and causes the most mortality. The Swanny have their doctors, who employ the Plantago major, a kind of rib-grass for healing wounds and sores.
by Google
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
Womeiis names in Swamicly. Datcho, Toupa, Daroutchana, Goulka, Myna, Tchoukana, Dodo, Bakhako, Tassa, Tynyko, Makryni, Otark'ha.