The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-09-21
ON THE cIRCassIaN WoMEN.

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said nothing ofthe beauty of the Circas
sian women, which is not below the
truth. Beauty has been considered d
an imaginary being, thing of inyen
ton; and to justify this exiraVagant ides
it has been alleged, that what is beau
tiful to the eyes of one people, is not SO
TO those of another; that Chinese
beauty would have no charms in France
or England, and, in like manner, that a
French or English beauty would have
no attractions in the eyes OF Chinese
But the beauty Of the Circassian women
is sufficient answer TO this reasoning
since they are acknowledged to be
beautiful by all nations. they are ev.
cry where sought after, and are the or.
namenE of all the seraglios Of Asia, Afri,
ca, and Europe, because they possess
that pleasing union Of features, that
proportion of all the parts of the body,
that spleudor, those brilliant tints, that
whole that cannot be defined. but which
exist, and necessarily CONSTITUTES beauty,
since all men render it homage.
1t is only in this point of view that
the inhabitants of Circassia (acountry
between the Caspian and BLACK seas,
deserve the attention of the Observing
traveller. 1t will easily be conceived
that the nation which considers women
as merchandise can never make her a
companion, nor consider marriage IS q
sacred and indissoluble union. We hpl,
accordingly, that the, Circassiaus haze
many wives, whom they change at p!es-
ure, but the first wife always has a b.
periority over The others, which mob
ing can take away, and which she F.
tains till death.
The first wife, who is usually mr.
ried when extremely young, is purchs
ed like the rest in the public markes,
where an innumerable multitude of
women are exposed TO sale, habitedin
the manner which is judged most Xix by
to excite the desire of the buyer. TO
inquiry is made with respect TO where
the woman was brought, and if be
names of her parents are asked, it is o.
ly to ascertain whether she derives hr
birth from stock of pure and acknoil-
edged beauty. The usual price OF
beautiful Circassian female is from eis
to ten thousand piasters.
Women being the principal CONNIE be
in Circassia, every thing in their edua-
ton and habitual life has for its obtct
to preserve their beauty and facilitate
its development. All domestic occupa
tons arc Abandoned to the slaVes-wo
men are solely employed with the ar.
OF the toilette and the means of pleas
ing. They make it a particular study
to modutate their voice in soft and me
ioclous tones, and to display grace anc
elegance IN every motion. Their hab
Itations are intermingled with gardens
and form small villages very near t.
each other, and consisting OF about TWEEN
ty houses each. And in the middle O
each of these villages is strongly for
titled tower, in which, in case Of inva
sion, they shut the women and the rich.
es Of the country. These towers. a,
well as all the houses, are built of wood
decorated with great art, aud finished
with taste.
The dress of the Circassian men is :
mixture of the Greek and Turkish hab
its. 1t consists of a pair of wide panta
looms, buskins, a close bodice fastened
with gifdle, kind of domino will
open sleeves, and cap or turban no
very high, broad at the top, and narrow
at the bottom. They shave their boards
leaving very long mustachios.
The dress of the women is more sim
pie and pleasing. 1t consists of panta
looms, bodice, and long robe in the
American taste, or large furred pelisse
From the cap or bonnet, of the shape o
sugar loaf, hangs veil. This bonnie
is richly ornamented with pearls
The dress is never sold with the wo
men, unless agreed for separately
The Circassian women, however, like
the European, wear under all liner
garment which they change every day
and this garment the seller is obliged t.
give with the women to the purchaser
In this state he delivers his merchan
die. THibernian Mugax;ne.