Kalmar, or Calmar. A fortified town of Sweden, and the capital of a province, on the sound or strait of the same name, in the Baltic, opposite the island of Oland. In 1397, the treaty of Kalmar, by which Denmark, Norway, and Sweden were united, was signed here.
Kalmucks, or Calmucks. Called by the Tartars Khalimick (“renegades”), the largest of the Mongolian peoples, inhabiting large regions of the Chinese, and also Russian dominions. They are divided into four tribes: the Choshots, ruled by descendants of Genghis Khan; the Soongars, in the 17th and the 18th centuries the masters of the other races; oppressed by the Chinese, they migrated in great numbers, in 1758, to Russia, but returned in 1770 to Soongaria; the Derbets, who dwell in the valleys of the Don and Ili; the Torgots, formerly united with the Soongars. The Kalmucks are a nomad, predatory, and warlike race, and pass the greater part of their lives in the saddle.
Kalsa Cutcherry (Ind.). The room of business, where matters pertaining to the army are transacted, and all matters of litigation on that branch of service are determined.
Kaluga. Chief town of the government of the same name in Russia, on the right bank of the Oka. From the 14th to the 18th century, its stronghold was a great protection against the invasions of the Lithuanians, the Tartars of the Great Horde, and especially against the Crimean Tartars. It is at present the residence of Schamyl, the Circassian chief.
Kalunga Fort. In the East Indies; it was attacked unsuccessfully by the company’s forces, and Gen. Gillespie killed, October 31, 1814; and again unsuccessfully on November 25. It was evacuated by the Nepaulese, November 30, same year.
Kaminietz. A town of Russian Poland, situated on the river Smotriza, and the capital of the government of Podolia. The fortifications of this place were razed in 1812, but have since been rebuilt.
Kamtschatka. A peninsula on the east coast of Asia; was discovered by Morosco, a Cossack chief, and was taken possession of by Russia in 1697.
Kanauts. A term used in India to designate the walls of a canvas tent.
Kangiar. A Turkish sabre, the blade of which is bent contrary to other swords, generally ornamented with diamonds and other precious stones.
Kansas. One of the States of the United States, the thirty-fourth in order of admission. It lies between 37° and 40° N. lat., and between 25th meridian of long. and the western boundary of the State of Missouri, and is, geographically, the central State of the Union. It was organized as a Territory in 1854, and admitted into the Union January 29, 1861; and though it remained loyal during the civil war, yet many of its inhabitants took the field for the Confederate cause.