768 KARAMAN KARENS KAUAMAN. See CAEAMAN. k AltAMSIV (properly KAKAMZIN), Nikolai Mi- ktiallovitdi, a Russian historian, born in eastern Russia in December, 1765, died in the Tauridan palace near St. Petersburg, June 3, 1826. lie studied in Moscow, served for about two years in the imperial guards, travelled in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, and England during the first period of the French revolution, suc- cessively edited the "Moscow Journal," the " Aglaia," a " Poetical Almanac," a " Pantheon of Foreign Literature," and a " Pantheon of Russian Literature," and was an active contrib- utor to the " European Messenger." His " Let- ters of a Russian Traveller" (1797-1801) were received with great enthusiasm, and in 1803 Alexander I. appointed him historiographer of Russia. He now produced his " History of Russia " from the earliest period down to the accession of the house of Romanoff, in 12 vol- umes, the last completed after his death. This publication, which occupied the last ten years of Karamsin's life, met with unprecedented success in Russia, and has been translated into several languages. Alexander appointed him imperial councillor in 1824 ; and in 1825 Nich- olas bestowed on him an annual pension of 50,000 rubles, revertible to his widow and chil- dren, and put an imperial frigate at his disposal to carry him to Italy for the restoration of his shattered health, of which however he was unable to avail himself. k AKASI -BAZAU, a town of the Crimea, in the government of Taurida, and in the circle and 28 m. E. N. E. of the city of Simferopol ; pop. in 1867, 14,397, chiefly Tartars, but including also Armenians, Jews, and other nationalities. It is situated in a fertile valley near the source of the Karasu river, but there are many morasses in the vicinity. It resembles Levantine towns by the crookedness of the streets and the mean- ness of the buildings ; but it is one of the most thriving places in the Crimea, with nearly 50 khans. The national church is a fine building in the shape of a cross, with a dome which lights the centre ; and there are places of wor- ship for Catholics, Armenians, and Jews, and more than 20 mosques. The cemeteries outside of the town are very extensive. The large es- tates of the Shirin family extend from this town almost all the way to Kertch, and ad- joining the town are several settlements of Germans who are as advanced in agriculture as the Tartars are backward. Wine, fruit, tal- low, wool, and hides are the staple articles of trade; and morocco, leather, shoes, saddles, and shaggy felt cloaks are manufactured in a superior style. The Tartars made Karasu-Ba- zar their capital in 1736, but it was captured and burned by the Russians in 1737. KARDSZAG, a market town of Hungary, in the district and formerly the capital of Great Cumania, on the Pesth and Debreczin railway, 88 m. E. S. E. of Pesth ; pop. in 1870, 14,486. It has a castle, and the inhabitants are engaged in the cultivation of corn, wine, and melons. KAUi:U S. See FINNS. KARENS, Kayrens, Kariuns, or Karrans, a rude people of Burmah, Siam, and parts of China, supposed to extend from lat. 10 to 28 N. They inhabit the jungles and mountainous districts, and number from 200,000 to 400,000, the majority of whom live in British Burmah.
- The number of the Karens in Siam is estimated
.at 50,000. Those on the frontiers of the Brit- ish possessions are called Red Karens from the usual color of their dress. They reckon them- selves by families, and each family, though it should number 200 or 300 souls, lias but one house. Their dwellings are built of stout posts and bamboo, and thatched with palm leaf. The floor consists of a matting of split bamboo, stretched over a strong timber framework which is raised 6 or 7 ft. above the ground. The immense edifice is divided into compart- ments for eating, sleeping, and other purposes, and the inmates are under a regular patriarchal discipline, which is the only form of govern- ment recognized by this people. They are de- scribed as industrious husbandmen ; they raise hogs and poultry, and hunt game in the forests. A long, loose, sleeveless shirt of coarse cotton is their principal article of dress, but they are fond of ornaments, which they wear on their necks, arms, and ankles. Women among them are treated with respect, and they are said to be hospitable, frank, and more virtuous than their neighbors. The Sgau or Chegaws, and the Pgho or Pgwos, are their principal tribes. These are pagans, but some of the other tribes are Buddhists. There are evidences that at some remote period they received ideas of Scrip- tural history. They have a tradition of white messengers from the sea coming to teach them ; they believe in one eternal Supreme Being ; and besides the story of the creation and the deluge, they have an account of " the fruit of trial " appointed by God, of which two persons, deceived by the bad spirit, ate, and thereby became subject to age, disease, and death ; and of a confusion of languages in consequence of disbelief in God. The labors of American missionaries among the Karens, which were commenced in 1828 by Messrs. Boardman and Judson, have been remarkably fruitful. In 1865 the numerous native churches were formed into a " Burmah Baptist Convention," which has since met once a year. At the convention held in Rangoon in November, 1872, the num- ber of churches in connection with the con- vention was reported as 365, all Karen, with the exception of 19 Burman, 1 Shan, and 2 English ; the Karen members numbered about 18,000. At Rangoon there is a Karen theologi- cal seminary, and since 1872 a Baptist Karen college. The origin of the Karens is unknown. Some suppose them to be aborigines ; others, immigrants from India ; and others again derive them from the north, which opinion, according to Latham, is the most probable. The same authority calls their language Burmese with notable Singhpo affinities.
