KIRGHIZ

a nomadic people of Tatar Mongolian race, who inhabit the steppes of Asia between Ural and Altai Mountains; they number about 3,000,000, speak a Turk, dialect, and, though profe ing Muhammadanism, still retain many heathen customs; generally subdivided into two groups, the K. Kazaks and the Kara-K. The Kazaxs are found in Ural and other provinces of Ru ia; they number over 2,500,000, and have been under Ru . control since 1819, The Kara-K. (Black K.) inhabit the uplands of Pamir and Turkestan, and other regions in Central Asia; their numbers are variously estimated at from 350,000 to 800,000; and they also area subject to Ru ia. K. province, Manchuria. Pop. « 100,000. K. province has area, 105,000 sq. miles, Pop. 6,000,000.