Kirghiz

Turks of s. w. Siberia, numbering ab. 3,000,000. They call themselves Kasaks (Co acks), meaning riders. The latter term is properly restricted to the tribes of the steppes of the w. part of that region; they should not be confounded with the Slavonian Co acks of s. Ru ia. Through intermixture IMG:content-0951.jpg:[graphic] IMG:content-0952.png:[graphic] Kirghiz Horsemen. with w. Asiatic blood, they have lost much of their Mongolioid characteristics, acquiring white complexions and European features. The tribes of the e. uplands, the Kara-Kirghiz, have purer Mongolioid blood, though their language and religion are Turkish. Both groups are nomad shepherds, and at times robbers. Kirk. Scottish form of Church; system of Presbyterianism legally established in Scotland.