camels; oxen laden with various articles; The following Account of a Circaffian The Calmuck Tartars inhabit, or rather frequent, that country which lies between the Cafpian and Euxine Seas, bounded on the fouth by Circaffia, on the Borth by the dominions of Ruffia, on the caft by the Cafpian Sea and the Volga, and on the weft by the river 'Don and the Sea of Afoph. They have no fixed habitation, but live chiefly in tents; and fublilt by depredation or by the pafturage of cattle. They pretend they are an independent nation; yet if they are abfolutely governed, their counfels are much influenced by the authority of the Ruffians. not In the reign of the Emprefs Anna Ivanowne, the court of Ruffia, by endeavouring to prevail with the Calmucks to betake themfelves to agriculture, and live in fixed habitations, wanted to reduce them to ftill greater fubjection. In this attempt, Donduc Ambo, the Chan of the Tartars, gave them great oppofition. The Ruffian miniftry, therefore, refolved to deprive him of his fovereiguty, and fubftitute Donduc Dafhee, who, they conceived, would give them lefs oppofition, in his place. But the wifdom and valour of the reigning prince rendered their plan abortive. He was, neverthelefs, fo fenfible of his danger, and fo juftly apprehenfive of the future machinations of the Ruffian Court, that he prevailed with his nation to leave the regions they had formerly occupied, and migrate into Buban-Tartary. This country is fituated on the fouth fide of the Palus Mootis or Sea of Afoph, is feparated it from by the Straits of Tainan, and its inhabitants, the Cuban Tartars, are dependants on the Ottoman Porte. : of the Volga. This opportutunity foon occurred. For a war having arifen between the Turks and the Ruffians, he knew that the affiftance of his nation would by of great importance on either fide; and offered his friendship to the Emprefs of Ruffia. An agreement took place between them it was ftipulated, that the Calmucks fhould return to the neighbourhood of Aftracan; that Donduc Ambo fhould be their acknowledged fovereign; and that he fhould affift the Ruffians with forty or fifty thousand men. The Emprefs ratified the league by prefents fent to the Calmuck Khan.Among thefe were two beautiful brafs cannon, of two or three pounders, and a icymeter gilt with gold, ftudded with precious ftones. He feized an early opportunity of putting his feymeter to the proof for the Cuban Tartars, who had treated him with little friendship, during his fojourn among them, having purfued him with hoftile intentions at his departure, he fell upon them with great fury, and cut off the flower of their army. Not long after, about the time peace was concluded between the Turks and the Ruffians, Donduc Ambo died. On his deceale, the Ruffian Miniftry refumed their favourite defign of abridging the independence of the Calmuck nation. For that purpofe, they again attempted to inveft Donduc Dafhee, whom Anna Ivanowna had maintained in a princely manner in the city of Cafan, with the fovereign authority. But they met with unexpected refiftance in the widow of Donduc Ambo, the former Chan. This Princefs was a Circaffian of illuftri ous lineage; and not more diftinguished for her beauty, which was eminent even in Circaffia, than for her virtues. She was the mother of five children; and though they were yet in their infancy, the determined to affert their right to the fovereignty enjoyed by their father. Therefore, finding herfelf in danger from the ambition of Donduc Dafhee, and the contrivances of the Ruffians, she fummoned the Calmuck chiefs to her tent. She reprefented to them the attempt made on their independence; the unworthy conduct of Donduc Dathee, who would The reception, however, which Don- facrifice the inte; eft of his people to his duc Ambo met with from the Turks, ambition; the inagnanimous virtues of and the Tartars of Cuban, not having their former Chan his, attachment anfwered his expectations, he determined to the dignity of the Calmuck natito embrace the firft opportunity of reon; the helpless ftate of his family! uniting himself, on honourable terms, and the confidence the repofed in the with Ruffia, and of returning to the banks care they would have of her children. Her Her beauty, heightened by her diftrefs, added force to her eloquence. The Tartar leaders entered warmly into her interefts and declared, that none 2 but the progeny of Donduc Ambo fhould be their Sovereigns. Thus the Princefs, finding herself at the head of at least forty thousand men, who had fought the battles of her husband, and were now devoted to her family, having encamped for fome time nigh the banks of the Volga, retired, during the winter to the borders of Circaffia. Meantime the Ruffians in the fouthern provinces became apprehenfive of a vifit from Kouli-chan, the tyrant of Pertia, no lefs famous for his conquefts, than abborred for his cruelty. Confcious too, of their having irritated the Calmuck Princefs, they were afraid, that in cafe of an invafion, the Tartars would co-operate with the Perfians. It was determined, therefore, that every engine fhould be employed to deprive her of her authority; and Donduc Dafhee, with thofe Tartars who adhered to him; entertained the most fangunie expetations of compatting their defigns. For though the Emprefs Anna was now dead, her fucceffor, Elizabeth, entered in this particular into her viwes. But the vigilant Circaffian was aware of her danger. She was apprehenfive left the Coffacks on the river Don, uniting with fome Circallians who had been brought over to the interefts of her opponents, would either betray her into the hands of the Ruffians, or oblige her to relinquish her authory. She therefore withdrew, very early in the fpring, to the caftern fide of the Volga. Here the was in lefs danger of being furrounded by her adverfaries; and in cafe of their perfifting in their oppreffion, the would betake herfelf for protection to the great nation of Black Calmucks, who frequent the vaft continent between the Cafpian Sea and the Wall of China. She flattered herfelf with meeting with a more friendly reception from them, as they were probably of the fame origin with the weftern Calmucks, and of fimilar manners, particularly as to religious opinions, than ner husband had experienced anong the Tartars of Cuban. In the mean time Donduc Dafhee having received many affurances that the Calmuck princefs was afraid of him, and would, on the first appearance of force, give up the conteft, left Cafan with an army of five thoufand men, and purfued her into the defert. Having overtaken her in her march, he was advancing boldly to the Tartar camp. Here he was met by fome Calmuck chiefs, who informed him, that the Princef's infifted on his advancing no farther; but that the was willing to converfe with any commiffioner whom he fhould appoint to treat of the interefts of the Calmuck nation. He accordingly fent one of his friends, acquainting her that the Emprefs expected The would refign her authority to him; and that the and her children might depend on having fuch provifion made for them, as fuited their high rank and condition. The Princefs, who was only defirous of gaining time, and obtaining information concerning the force he had brought against her, aufwered, that it was then late, and that next morning "they fhould adjust their differences." In the night the confulted with her chieftians; the found them refolute; and next morning, by fun-rife, the appeared on horfeback at the head of her army. She fell upon Donduc Dafhee. His five thoufand men made a gallant defence; but, overpowered by numbers, the greatest part of them were put to the fword. Intelligence of this fatal conflict was brought to Aftracan by a Tartar attached to Donduc Dathee. He was a perfon of fome diftin&tion: had with him neither bow nor fcy. meter, nor any other weapon than a battle-axe. He fhed a torrent of tears and faid, his friends, and the Calmuck prince were flain. Vafilee Nikitits Tatifhoff was at that time governor of Aftracan. He was a confummate politician; and had dif tinguifhed him felf at the acceffion of the Emprefs Anna, by baffling the defigns of the Ruffian noblemen, who wanted to im pofe fome terms on their Sovereign, and reftrict her power. He was indeed well fuited to promote the views of an abfolute prince. Totally unprincipled, he laugh ed at every facred tie; and being addict ed to study, he could fupport his immoral or irreligious maxims, by the reafonings of thofe writers who gave countenance to his opinions. He poffeffed at the fame time, all the penetration, craft and dexte rity neceffary for the fervices to which he was called. After the difcomfiture of Donduc Dafhee the Calmuck Princefs returned to the country ufually frequented by her nation, between the Don and the Volga; and there was reafon to believe, that the intended, in cafe of any future affault, to put herself and her children under the pro protection of the Perfian Monarch. It was neceffary, therefore, that Tatifhoff fhould lofe no time in executing the deigns of his Sovereign. He was fully fatisfied, fince the defeat of Donduc Cafhee, that open violence was not to be attempted; and had recourfe to fuch measures as were better fuited to his character. Trufting to his addrefs in difcerning, and adapting himfelt to the weakness of the female conftitution, he fent her magnificent prefents; he faid they were from the Ruffian Emprefs; he affected to difapprove of her rival; and, finally, he affured her, that his Sovereign, from the high opinion fhe entertained of her merits, had appointed her governor of Aftracan. He informed her, that he was ready to obey her commands; and that her power in that country would be inferior only to that of Elizabeth Petrowna. In order ftill farther to impofe on her credulity, he forged letters as from the Emprefs; and fent fome officers of diftinction to affure her, that the great palace in the citadel, and the palace built in the neighbourhood of the city by Peter the Great, were ready for her reception. He told her, that all refpect fhould be fhown her as if the were Severeign of the country; and her new fubjects were impatient to fee her invested with the badges of her authority, The Princefs, in evil hour, was feduced. She quitted her retreat, and arrived in the neighbourhood of Aftracan. Tatihoff waited upon her in her tent. He threw himself on his knees before her, and feemed to ratify, by the ardour of his proteftations, the fincerity of his profeffions. Accordingly a day was fixed for her public entry into the city. Four thousand men were drawn up in the ftreet, forming a lane from the gate to the citadel. Cannons were fired, drums beat, bells rung, and the whole city feemed to be filled with joy and coungratu lation. The Princefs walked on foot, attended by forty Calmucks, the chief men of her nation. Tarifhoff and his officers appeared in her retinue. The dignity of his perfon, and the beauty of her countenance, excited the admiration of the affembled multitude. The conscioufness of her own integrity, and the belief that her fpirited exertions, in behalf of her family, had procured her this diftinction as the reward of her virtues, gave additional dignity to her appearance. She little know that the had fallen into a treacherous fnare. was A magnificent entertainment was provided for her in the great hall in the caftle She was feated at the head of the table; and while Tatifhoff fat at the foot, her forty Calmucks took places on each fide of her. Every thing was conducted with the utmost iplendour. Tatifhoff overjoyed; and the unfufpecting Princefs was too foon informed that his joy arose from a very diffentcnt cause than what the apprehended. For, after dinner, on pretence of fome bufinefs, he requested her to go alide with him into an adjoining gallery. She went along with him unat tended. The gallery had three doors; one at each end, and one from the hall. She had no fooner entered than the doors were fhut: two grenadiers, with ferewed bayonets had been placed by every one of them on the infide; and the was informed in their prefence, of Tatifhoff's perfidious purpofe. He told her not to be alarmed, for that no harm was intended against her life, or that of her children;" but that the must be prevailed with to refign her authority to Donduc Dafhee; and that if her attending Caimucks made any refiftance, it would prove fatal both to her and to them. The aftonishment, the refentment, and the anguifh of the Princefs, were no doubt exceffive. Yet these emotions did not deprive her of recollection nor of the fenfe of her own dignity, Her conduct in this critical fituation was fuch, as did not alter the circumftances of her fate, but very much leffened, if it did not entirely deftroy, the triumph of her betrayer. She upbraided him with his treachery; but abfolved the Empress from any fhare in his guilt; the reafoned concerning the propriety of his political conduct; the reprefented to him that her hildren were not actually in his power; that he had given general inftructions to, the Calimucks who had them in charge, never, even at her request, in whatsoever circumftance the might be, to give them out of their hands; and that any violence dope to them would for ever alienate the Calmuck nation from the interefts of Ruffia. She told him moreover, that the acquiefced in her fate; fhe faw it was in vain to contend; but that if the were allowed to confer with her army, he would be able to dispose them to fuch an accommodation as was equally confiftent with their honour, and the interefts of the Ruffian empire. She added more prevailing enticementsher tears flowed in abundance, and with effectual power. A fympathetic emoțion feized the heart of Tatifhoff; he was unprincipled; but not infenfible: and in that fufceptible moment he yielded to her entreaty. The Princefs's attendants received no information concerning this unexpected bufinefs till they returned with her to the Calmuck camp- -Tatifhoff in the mean time, was not fo entirely overcome by his feelings as not to at tend to fome prudential confiderations; and he fent along with the Princess a guard of above five hundred men. They were commanded by his fon; and armed in the completeft manner. It would appear, that the Tartar forces, on this occafion, were not very numerous, elfe they would have refcued the Princefs from the hands of the Ruffians. But this upon the prefent occafion, they were unable to execute. The Princefs on returning to her encampment, loft no time in accomplishing the flight of her children: the herfelf was taking measures for her own efcape; was mounting her horfe at midnight; was difcovered; and kept afterwards in clofer confinement. In this fituation, how ever, exulting inwardly in the fuppofed fafety of her children, the appeared rather with the dignified filence of fallen majefty, than with the plantive forrow of afflicted weakness. By the dignity of her deportment the awed the forwardnefs of young Tatifhoff, who was fufpected of having offered her infult; and compelled him, by her indignant referve, to behave with humiliating diftance. Meantime the Governor of Aftracan repented him of his fenfibility. The generality of mankind who fuffer felt condemnatiou, are afflicted on account of their errors; but Tatilhoff fuffered felf condemnation for having given indulgence to fomewhat of a generous emotion. He argued, he intreated, he folicited his captive (for, though in the Tartar camp fhe was ftill his captive), to learn from her what he had done with her children. He fent troops in purfuit of them; he fcoured the defart with his Coffacks; but in vain. She fimiled at his diftrefs: the told him he might do with her what he pleafed; but the children of Ambo were no longer in his power. His chagrin preyed on his conftitution; and his appetite left him; he durft not, for fear of making the whole Calmuck nation revolt, ufe the Princefs with inhumanity; yet he was deeply mortified and covered with fhame for his difappointment. Nevertheless he was too foon relieved from this merited affliction. The young Princes were indeed under the protection of a numerous body of Calmucks, who were determined to defend them. But they were no longer defended by the wifdom, the vigilance and affection of their mother. They fell at length into the hands of their enemy; and were fent, along with the Princefs under a strong guard, to Mofcow. They were treated there with the utmoft refpect. The Emprefs gave them ample poffeffions: the vifited the Princefs; and did every thing in her power to render her fituation agreeable. Virtuous, amiable, and refpected the Calinuck Princess enjoyed as much felicity as was confiftent with the remembrance of her former condition. Some circumstances of her story resemble that of Zenobia, the famous Queen of Palmyra; and thofe particulars, in which there is any difference, de honour to the fair Circaffian. It does not appear that Donduc Dafhee was able, or perhaps entirely willing, to accomplish the change fo much defired by the Ruffians, in the manners of the Calmuck nation. Nor is it probable, that Tatifhoff had much reafon to rejoice in his impious maxims. Successful in one perfidious enterprize, he attempted others and while he fupported, as he ap prehended, the interefts of the empire, he was not inattentive to his own private emoluments. He became folicitous of amaffing wealth. Selfish and unprincipled, he proceeded from injuftice to vi olence and inhumanity. Among other enormities, he plundered and put to death an Armenian merchant. The affair was reprefented at St. Petersburgh. Enquiry was made; and his guilt appeared fo manifeft, that he was divefted of his command, and confined to a village in the neighbourhood of Moscow. He endea voured to get an audience of his fovereign; and did not doubt but that his infinuations and addrefs would procure him forgivennefs. But thofe who were inte refted in his fall oppofed the means of bis restoration. Once, in the disguise of a foldier, he had already reached the palace; but was detected, dragged away, and fent back to his place of confinement. He did not die a violent death; but, poffeffed of keen fenfibility, he fuffered pangs more excruciating than the pain perhaps of fuch a death. Devoured with chagrin he blafphemed heaven, fpoke treafon against his Sovereign, calumniated all men pined in difcontent, and died of vexation. From Colonel Capper's Obfervations on a Paffage to India. T has long been a favourite opinion amongst the learned, both ancient and modern, that the Egyptians were acquaint-ed with the arts and fciences, when all the other people were in a ftate of ignor ance. We are told they difcovered geometry in making the divifions of land, after the annual overflowing of the Nile; that the clearness of their atmofphere enabled them to make aftronomical obfervations fooner than other people; and that the fertility of their country gave rife to trade, by enabling them to fupply all their neighbours, with corn and other neceffaries of life. These arguments are however more fpecious than true for if we owe the difcovery of geometry to the overflow. ing of the Nile, of aftronomy to the clearnefs of the atmosphere, and of trade to the fertility of the foil, in that part of Hindoftan which is within the tropic, there are ftill larger rivers which overflow annually, a clearer fky, and a more fertile foil. The Nile only once a year affords a fupply of water to the countries on its banks, and the fmall quantity of rain that falls there at other times; does not furnish moisture enough to keep up the finalleft degree of vegetation. Whereas the rivers in Hindoftan particularly thofe on the coaft of Coromandel, are regularly filled with water twice a year, firft from the rains which fall in June, July and Auguft, in the Balagat mountains, where the fources of those rivers lie; and afterward from the N. E. monfoon or rainy feafon, which continues on the Coromandel coaft during the months of October, November and December. With refpect to the goodness of the climate, or the clearness of the atmosphere for the purpose of aftronomy, there can be no comparifon between Egypt and Hindostan ; for at night during the greater part of the year in Hindoftan there is fcarcely a cloud to be feen in the fky, and the air efpecially in the fouthern countries is never difagreeably cold, fo that an aftronomer would have every opportunity and induce ment to purfue his ftudies in the open air, whereas in Egypt the fky is often cloudy, and the air fo cold as to make it unpleafant to be out of doors after fun-fet. The Indians had alfo very evidently the advantage of the Egyptians with respect to cloathing, which is one of the neceffaries, or at least one of the comforts of life; for if we fuppofe men first cloathed themfelves Vol. VI. April 1784 in the fkins of animals, India abounds in vaft forefts and extenfive fertile plains, where animals of all kinds both favage and tame, must have bred infinitely faster than in the barren deferts of upper Egypt; but in a hot country the natives would naturally prefer garments made of woven corton. Now the cotton fhrub is very rare in Egypt, even at this time, and it is well known to have grown in India, and to have been fabricated into cloth ever fince we have had any acquaintance with that country. From thefe premifes, therefore it is natural to fuppofe, that the Indians in the early ages were much more likely to fupply the Egyptians with the neceffaries and comforts of life, than to be fupplied by them; that the Indians would at least have as much occafion for geometry as the Egyptians; and that they had at leaft equal if not greater advantages for purfuing the ftudy of aftronomy. Thus far however all is but conjecture; for we have no tradition or hiftory of thofe times when either the Egyptians or the Indians were in an uncivilized ftate; but if we purfue the fubject we fhall find very evident proofs that when an intercourfe did take place between them, that the Egyptians received from Hindoftan all thofe articles of luxury, which the Greeks and Romans purchafed again from them. It was formerly fuppofed that most of these articles came from Arabia Felix, but this error has long fince been exploded. It is now well known they were none of them the produce of Arabia, but were brought thither by veffels from India, and from thence were carried up that Red Sea with other productions of the country. I am well aware that the advocates for Egypt will call upon me to produce any remains of antiquity in India fo ancient as the Pyramids. To thele gentlemen I fhall oppofe one impoffibility to another, by afking them to trace back the building of Gour, which feven hundred and thirty years before Chrift was the capital of Bengal or of the better known Palibothra of the ancients, which was the capital of India long before Alexander's time. As a further proof that the natives of Hindoftan were in an advanced ftate of civilization near two thousand years ago, I fhall alfo beg leave to obferve that a plate of copper was lately dug up at Mongheer, engraved Kk with: |