The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-11-03
From the lIibcrnian Magazine.
rIl,( SSIAN WOMEN.

From the Hibcrnian Magazine.
CIRCAsslAN WOMEN.
History, travellers, and rqmance, have
SAID nothing of the beauty OF the Clrcassian
women, which is not below truth. beauty
has been considered as an imaginary being,
a thing of invention and to justify this ex-
travagant idea, it has been alleged, that
what is beautiful to the eyes OF one person,
is not so to those of another; That Chi
nese beauty would have no charms in rance
or England, and i'll like manner, that
French or English beauty would have no at
fractions in the ewes of Chinese. But the
beauty Of the Circassian women is suti-
cient answer to this reasoning since they are
acknowledged to be beautiful by all nations.
They are every where sought after, and
arc the ornament of all the seraglios OF A.
sia, Africa. and Europe, because they pos
sess that pleasing union OF features, tlat
proportion Of all the parts OF the body, tHat
splendor, those brilliant tints, that cannot
be defined, but which exist, and necessary
constitutes beauty, since all men render It
homage.
1t is only in this point of view that the IN
habitants of Circassia Ga country between
the Caspian and Black seas9 deserve the
be easil, conceived that the nation which
considers women as merchandl1e, can never
make her CO npanion, nor consider mar
riage as a sacred and indissolable union.
! We find. accordingly, that the Gircassians
have many wives, whom they change at
pleasure, but the first wife always has a
superiority over the others, which nothing
can take away, and which she retains till
death.
The first wife, who is usually married
when extremely Young, is purchased like
the rest in the public markets. where an in
Vulnerable number of women are exposed
for sale, habited il the manner which is
Judged most likely to excite the desire OF
the buyer No inquiry is made with re-
spect from whence the woman was brought,
and if the names of her parents are asked,
it is only to ascertain whether she derives
her birth from pure and acknowledged
stock of beauty. The usual price OF a beau
tiful Circassian female is from eight TO ten
Thousand piasters.
Women being the principal commerce in
Circassia, every thing in their education and
habitual life has for its object to preserve
their beauty and facilitate its developement
t All domestic occupations are abandoned t
: the slaves-women are solely employed
/ with the arts of the toilette and the means o.
pleasing. They make it particular study
/ to modulate in soft and nelodious tones, ant
to display grace and elegance in every mo.
, ton. Their habitatons are interminglcd
, with gardens, and form small villages very
near to each other, and consist Of about
, twenty houses each. And in the middle o
each Of these villages is a strong fortticc
: tower, in which, i'll case of invasion, the!
. shut the women and the riches of the coun
! try. These towers, as well as the houses
Q are built of wood, decorated with great art
! and finished with taste.
{ The dress of the Circassian men is mix
. ture Of the Greek and Turkish habits. /
consists of pair Of wide pantaoons, bus
kins, i close boddice fastened with a gir
die, kind of fdomino with open sleeves, am
/ cap or turban not very high, broad at tn,
. top, and narrow at the bottom The,
n shave their heads, leaving very long musta
! chocs.
n The dress of the women is more simp
/. and pleasing. 1t consists Of pantaloons, ;
y boddice, and long robe in the American
S taste, or large furred pelisse. From th
!, cap or bonnet, of the shape of a sugar LOAF
Il hangs veil. This bonnet is richly ornament
n cd with pearls.
d The dress is never sold with the womcr
i unless agreed for separately. The Circas
sian women, however, like the European
: wear under all a linen garment, which the
4. change every day, and this garment tho sci
T. er is obliged to give with the woman to tn
IL purchaser. In this state he delivers h
merchandise.