CRIM-TARTARS, a people of Asia, so called because they originally came from Crimea. They rove from place to place in search of pastures, their houses being drawn on carts. There are a great number of them about Astrachan, to which place they flock in the winter-time; but they are not permitted to enter the city: for this reason, they erect huts up and down in the open fields: which are made either of bulrushes or reeds, being about 12 feet in diameter, of a round form, and with a hole at the top to let out the smoke. Their fuel is turf or cow-dung; and when the weather is very cold, they cover the hut with a coarse cloth, and sometimes pass several days without stirring out. They are generally of small stature, with large faces, little eyes, and of an olive complexion. The men are generally so wrinkled in their faces, that they look like old women. Their common food is fish dried in the sun, which serves them instead of bread; and they eat the flesh of horses as well as camels. Their drink is water and milk, especially mares milk, which they carry about in nasty leathern bags. Their garments are of coarse gray cloth, with a loose mantle made of a black sheep's skin, and a cap of the same. The women are clothed in white linen, with which they likewise dress their heads, hanging a great many Moscovian pence about them; and there is likewise a hole left to stick feathers in. As for their religion, they are a sort of Mahometans; but do not coop up their women like the Turks.

CRIM-Tartary, or Crimea. See CRIMEA.