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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 July 2012
The Russians, in effecting a practicable road to China, discovered in Latitude 50 north, between the rivers Irtish and Obalet, a desert of a very considerable extent, overspread in many parts with Tumuli, or Barrows. This desert constitutes the southern boundary of Siberia.
page 226 note *** The idols engraved according to real proportion in Plate XVII *. and XVIII*. were likewise communicated by Mr. Peter Collinson, who received them from Mr. Demidoff. They are properly Calmuc or Tartarian Penates; and are composed of such metals as the circumstances of the family can afford. Every head of a tribe or family has one of his own choice, which is placed in a particular part of his tent, and worshiped by prostration, and imploring temporal blessing. This latitude of choice gives room for great variety in the figures of these idols. Those here exhibited are composed of part of the human body, and of various animals differently combined.
The first somewhat resembles, in the upper part, an Egyptian idol, the head partly that of an ox, but with the beak of a bird: the breast, arms, and hands of a man, with claws instead of nails, and the belly covered with feathers, as are the short thick swelling thighs continued to the feet, which are also armed with claws, three before and one behind.
The second figure is not unlike a Syren, with the body of a woman, and the tail of a fish or serpent: the ornament of the head resembling the Egyptian, with a collar round the neck reaching down to the waist. One sees many Chinese and Japanese deities of this form.
The third idol is composed of a human body, with wings thick short swelling thighs and legs covered with plumage, the feet armed with three claws before, and one behind; round the neck a collar reaching to the waist.
The fourth is a female figure, pretty much resembling the last.
The fifth represents same furious wild beast, probably a lion. In the same plate are small figures of a man on horseback, two men reverst conjoined, the breast of one to the belly of the other, the bodies raised to some height above each other.
The sixth idol seems to have the head of an elephant, and the body and tail of a fish.
The Calmucks have, besides these diminutive deities, a national supreme Idol, before whom one or more lamps are kept continually burning; he has a tent consecrated for his residence, with priests, and an established ceremonial.