Turki, or Turks. An important and wide-spread stock of the Northern Mongolic family, dwelling in Central Asia, Asia Minor, and in European Turkey. The primitive Turki stock—the Chinese Tu-kiu and ancient Turcæ—seem to have inhabited the Altai region as early as the second century B.C. Thence they spread far and wide, and founded many powerful and predatory, but unstable empires. The [Huns] (q.v.) who followed Attila were largely of Turki stock. Their chief modern race is that of the Ottoman Turks [see [TURKS]], who raised their empire on the ruins of Constantinople in 1453. Other Turki races are the Yakuts, Usbegs, Naimans Andijanis, Nogais, [Tartars], Bashkirs, Kizil-Bashis, Anatolian Turks, etc. They are closely allied to the [Kirghiz], [Kipchaks], [Kara-Kalpaks] and [Turkomans] (q.v.). The Turki physical type, of Mongol origin, has been modified by intermixture with Caucasic races.
Turks, Osmanlis, or Ottoman Turks. The dominant inhabitants of the Turkish Empire in Europe and Asia Minor, the most powerful of Turki races. They trace their descent from the Seljuks, a confederacy of Turki tribes who were settled on the Jaxartes in the eleventh century, and there adopted Islam. They conquered Persia and established kingdoms in Syria—the great Saladin was one of their princes—and Asia Minor, or Anatolia. The true Ottoman Turks entered the service of the Seljuk rulers in the thirteenth century, being driven from Kharasan by the advance of the Mongol hordes, and under Othman and his successors they became the dominant Turk race. They reared a great military power, and soon invaded Europe, where they destroyed the Eastern Empire in the middle of the fifteenth century and founded the still existing Turkish Empire. The Ottoman Turks are proud, ignorant and fanatical, but honourable and upright. They make admirable soldiers, when properly led, but are surpassed in the arts of peace by their subject races, Greeks, Bulgarians, Jews, etc.
Turkomans. A race of Turki nomads who inhabit the steppes east of the Caspian and south of the Oxus. They include such tribes as the Chaudors, Tekkes (Akhal and Merv), Salors, Yomuds, Goklen, and Ali-Elis. They were formerly noted for their predatory and man-stealing habits, but under Russian rule have been forced to live a more peaceful life. m
Tusayas. See [PUEBLO INDIANS].
Tuscaroras. North American Indians. See [IROQUOIAN].
Tushis. See [CHECHENZES].
Tushilange. A branch of the [Baluba] (q.v.).
Tutelos. See [SIOUAN].
Tyrolese. Natives of the Tyrol, the ancient Rhaetia, a mountainous district now belonging to the Austrian Empire. They are of High German Teutonic stock, and are noted for their patriotism and bravery, illustrated by their resistance under Hofer to the arms of Napoleon. They are industrious and thrifty, but backward in education, and devout Catholics.
Tyrrhenes. An ancient pre-Hellenic race of Greece, found in Thrace and Etruria, who probably belonged to the Pelasgian stock of the Hamitic family, giving birth to the [Etruscans] (q.v.).