The Russians have no idea of their own country and are ignorant of its boundaries and extent They know nothing of the world beyond their own rivers and mountains and the Chinese Tartars are equally unacquainted with the geography of the empire of the Czars[Pg 5] The Russians are a people of the same religion and language with the Tartars but they differ from them in their manners and customs. The Tartars are a hardy and warlike race who live on horseback and carry their houses about with them The Russians are more civilized and live in towns and cities. The Tartars are governed by khans or emirs who are independent of each other and have little communication with one another The Russians are subject to the authority of the czar who is absolute master of his dominions and has the power of life and death over all his subjects. The Tartars are not subject to any prince or sovereign and live under their own laws and usages. The Russians pay tribute to the Porte of Constantinople and acknowledge the sultan as their lord paramount. The Tartars pay no tribute to any body and acknowledge no other power than that of their own khans. The Russians are Christians and the Tartars Mahometans. The Russians have been conquerors of Poland and Sweden and have subdued the kingdoms of Livonia and Esthonia They have also taken possession of Siberia and the northern parts of Asia. The Tartars have never been conquerors but have been often conquered. The Russians have had frequent wars with the Turks and Swedes and have been often at war with the Poles and Lithuanians The Tartars have had wars with the Chinese and Moguls.

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