Rebecca Curtis, age 15, of Santa Cruz, Calif., for her question:

WHO ARE THE KALAMUCKS?

A Kalamuck is a member of a tribe of mongoloid people. Early Kalamucks lived in central Asia. Today, they are found in many parts of China, southwestern Russia and western Siberia. A large group also lives on the Astrakhan Plains west of the Volga.

For many years the Kalamucks were nomads or wanderers. But the Russian czars encouraged many of them to settle in permanent homes and become farmers.

Many of the early Kalamucks were brave warriors and daring horsemen.

Many belonged to the famous Cossack cavalry regiments of the Russian Army. An average racially unmixed Kalamuck stands about 5 feet 4 inches tall. He has broad shoulders, straight black hair and a round head.  His face is flat and round and his features resemble those of other  Mongolian people of the East.

Most of the Kalamucks are Buddhists, but a few are members of the Christian and Muslim religions.