an Asiatic nation, which extends from the highest ridge of Caucasus, along the Sundha rivulets. According to Major Rennel*, they are bounded to the west by the little Cabarda, to the east by the Tar- tars and Lezgins, and to the south by the Lezgins and Georgians. He imagines they may be the people whom Gaerber calls the Toulirski, i.e., "mountaineers," and to whom he attributes the following strange cu- tom:—"When a guest or stranger comes to lodge with them, one of the host's daughters is obliged to receive him, to unfuddle and feed his horse, take care of his baggage, prepare his dinner, pass the night with him, and continue at his disposal during his stay. At his departure, the faddles his horse and packs up his baggage. It would be very uncourteous to refuse any of these marks of hospitality." The different tribes of this restless and turbulent nation are generally at va- riance with each other, and with all their neighbours. Their dialects have no analogy with any known lan- guage, and their history and origin are at present ut- terly unknown.

Their districts, as enumerated in Major Rennel's Me- moir, are, 1. Ingush, about 60 miles to the southward of Mozdok, in the high mountains about the Kum- belel. 2. Endery; and, 3. Axai, on a low ridge be- tween the Sundha and Iaxai rivers. In their terri- tories are the hot wells. 4. Aekinyurt towards the upper part of the Sundha and Kumbelie. 5. Ardakli, on the Rofhni that joins the Sundha. 6. Wapi, near the Offset village Thim, towards the source of the Terek. 7. Anguht, on the upper part of the Kum- belei. 8. Shalkha, called by the Russians Maloi An- guht. 9. Thetthen, on the lower part of the Argun river. 10. Atakhi, a small district on the upper part of the Argun. 11. Kulga, or Dzhanti, in the high mountains. 12. Galgai, or Halha, about the source of the Asai, a Sundha rivulet. 13. Thabriloi, and Sha- bul, on the Sundha. 14. Thihini-Kabul, on the Rofhni, a Sundha rivulet. 15. Karaboulak, a wan- dering tribe, who have their little villages about the six uppermost rivulets of the Sundha, particularly the Fortan. 16. Meefti, Meredgi, Galashka, and Duban, are small tribes on the Axai.

The Ingush, or first of the above tribes, submitted to Russia in 1770. They are capable of arming about 5000 men; they call themselves Ingush, Kisti, or Halla; they live in villages near each other, containing about 20 or 30 houses; are diligent husbandmen, and rich in cattle. Many of their villages have a stone tower, which serves in time of war as a retreat to their women and children, and as a magazine for their effects. These people are all armed, and have the custom of wearing shields.—Their religion is very simple, but has some traces of Christianity: They believe in one God, whom they call Daile', but have no saints or re- ligious persons; they celebrate Sunday, not by any re- ligious ceremony, but by resting from labour; they have a fast in spring, and another in summer; they observe no ceremonies either at births or deaths; they allow of polygamy, and eat pork. One kind of sacrifice is usual among them: at certain times a sheep is killed by a person who seems to be considered as a kind of priest, as he is obliged to live in a state of celibacy. His habi- tation is in the mountains, near an old stone church, which is said to be adorned with various statues and inscriptions. Under the church is a vault that contains certain old books, which, however, no one ever at- tempts to approach. Mr. Guldenlaedt† was pre- vented by the weather from visiting this church.

The 6th, 7th, and 8th tribes, which were formerly tributary to the Cabardean princes, submitted to Rus- sia in 1770. The 9th, Thetthen, is governed by its own chiefs, who are related to the Avar-Khan. This tribe is so numerous and warlike, and has given the Russians so much trouble, that its name is usually given by them to the whole Kisti nation. The chief village of Thetthen lies on the Argun, about 15 miles from its mouth. Its other principal villages are Hadhihaul and Langejent, both on the Sundha.