The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-11
Afstellameous.
Translated for the Newark Daily Advertiser
A COURT IN THE CAUCASIAN NOUN
TAINS


TErLIs, (Georgia,) 4th December, 1910.
The tribe of the Ayarians is, perhaps, one Of the
most numerous and most courageous among the war
like tribes which inhabt the range Of the Caucasus.
This barbarous people, descended ola pure Monaghan
race, whose Tartar blood has not been corrupleiby
any mixture with surrounding nations, has preserved
the manners the customs, and the superstitions
Of the ancient subjects ofDjengis Khan. Entrenched
IN the Uncovered mountan which extend from Du-
burt 10 Elbroos, designated in their expressive idom
by the name OF the mountain having seven snowy
names, the Avarans like the Tchelchunts, the Les
ghs the Abasis, and other Circassian mountaineers
are engaged in continual hosties with the Russians
and regard as their principal Of wealth the
booty which they obtain in their predatory excursions
and the prisoners whom they sell commonly TO the
kurds, the Arminans, or the Persians.
particular customs which prevails among the Ava
rians who well the other mountain tribes divide
the prisoners among themselves the end Of every
successful expedition, is this The prisoners are as
sembled at point and remain exposed during seven
suns TO the personal inspection of all the members of
the tribe, who examine them and address such ques-
day tribunal consisting Of The Khan wRo Isl & the pre-
siding Judge and of six old men, selected from the
most honored and renowned ofthe tribes, il convened
10 stento accusations which may be made against
any Of the prisoners. The equitable judgments pro-
nounced by this foridable tribunal executed inn
mediately If sentence ofdeath is inflicted upon
any Of the prisoners an indemnity Is granted to the
Avaran who had acquired property in his person by
having perIed his own lie IN MS capture.
One of these barbarous assizes Of the Avarans has
recently been held in the forest of Bonjanak not far
from 1ihs the central point of the government of
Georgia, whose details have been submitted to by
the Russian journals.
On the 10th June, l840 a bloody engagement
occurred between the Russian troops under Generals
Test, Krabbe and Syrojif and the Circassion tribes
united under the command of Schamm Khan, OF the
Tchetchencts, who is now respected as the Supreme
Chief of the federation o. the mountain tribes. The
xuh. tnnE MIA in he AZ cf
Daghesten at the foot of the hills Of Souher, lasted
from the dawn Of day until long after the setting Of
the The mountaineers, after obtaining signal
advantage the disciplined troops Of the Gar
gained their inaccessible retreats loaded With booty
and carrying with them numerous prisoners. The
Avarans who their part had furnished contingent
Of a thousand horsemen TO the expedition ably
dertaken by Schammi under the orders of Bay Mira
of Mendy, their Khan, returned to their tents
with l3S prisoners, taken from the Russian ranks.
large hut covered with reeds, called the chateau
of the Khan, built cleared spot in the centre of
the forest of Bonjnak, from which the lofty frs and
the knotty oaks have been transported by the hands
of men, or consumed by the agency Of fire. 1t is
Of the places Of shelter and OF hating of this nomade
sovereign. The exterior of the chateau is far from
sembing the sumptuous palaces Of the Tartar khans
Of Crmea, but within there is the same luxury, the
same display Of riches gained by barbarian vapr.-
Around this princely retreat two streams meander
among abrupt masses of rocks piled upon each other
in wild confusion The road which conducts to it,
almost impossible by conformation of the ground,
partly the result of convulson of nature, partly Of
human art would be inaccessible and impractcabe for
any but an Avarian.
On this elevated plateau the Russian prisoners were
exposed. All attempts at flight were rendered use
less by the extreme precautions which had been taken
Every prisoner his hands strongly tied behind his
back had besides rope with running knot around
his neck, such the Tartars employ in taking wild
horses and which they call The extremity of
each rope fastened to common centre, large
wooden stake firmly fixed in the ground. Fifty Ava
rians armed with guns and yata Ghans, constantly
watched them, whist a. all hours Of the day the mem
bers of the tribe walked through their ranks eyeing the
unhappy with restless curiosity, seeking to re-
coQnse their faces and addressing nsdious questions
to them, both in the Tartar idom aud IN the Russian
tongue.
The Khan and the six ancients of the tribe who
composed the tribunal sat in the royal chateau These
Judges are in number, because OF the seven
submits white snowy names OF the mountains OF
Elbroous which the tribe of the Avarans consider as
the seat Of the divntes who judge them after DEATH
AT the end Of seven days, passed in these prelin-
nary foimates Avarian struck three times on the
silver cymbals which continually suspended before
the dwelling Of the Khan. The grey dawn was Just
beginning to pierce the thick foliage of the mighty
forest Of oaks and pines which surrounded the clear
space. At the signal, Mendly Khan and the SIX an
clients of the tribe emerged from the hut.
The Avarians are neither Mahometans nor Chris
tians Their religion if the term may be properly APP
plcu 10 tncT singular pcio eohoos' 80
ing an ephemeral but supernatural power to the first
object of nature which they perceive at the beginning
of each day The divinity which they thus create for
themselves, and to whom they accord bind devotion,
his authority during "a hours, and Is replaced
the next day hy another selection in the same fortu
tous manner. - ,
On going out of the tent the Khan and his old men
raised their eyes towards heaven, and, perceivlng
raven, as it were, swimming and ba'ning IN ,ne
ether, he exclaimed" the Raven is GodW Lond
cries Of alteration and rejoicing were mInediately
head from all who surrounded him.
carpet was then spread upon the ground in the
form of horseshoe the judges seated themselves upon
il cross-legped after the Turkish fashion, and the
cymbaIs resoundcd for some minutes through the
echoinp forest When the noise had ceased, upon a
signal given by the Khan three accusers presented
themselves.
Cabardans" (Circassians of the plain said Ali ar
tan one of the boldest Avaran horsemen advancing
in the midst of the circle "These miserable deserters
have served in the ranks of the Russian troops they
are still clothed in the uniform OF the soldier slaves
accuse them of t-eachery for they have borne arms
against their brethren; demand sentence OF desth
| upon them"
The second accuser, Mohammed Bey then appear.
ed 81 ask the punishment of Russian officer, SAID
he "who is in the number of the prisoners. Ihis
officer, whose name is Flint Mayer, came curing the
past year into our mountains and presented himself TO
us MS a deserter We received him with pity because
we thought him unfortunate. lie slept under our
tents he ate rice he drank our kurnye ana AFTER
wards returned among his own people to report what
he had learned of strength and of our projects
The officer Flint Mayer is Russian spy, de-
mand his life in reparaton of his cowaIdy and odious
| conduct"
Arra Leng, the third accuser, declared that another
officer Nicholas Buchanof, had cheated hin. at the
fair of Bladicaucusus, paying him coin containing
alloy for the price oftwo horses which he had sold to
him Il is The custom Of the Circassians and Avarans
in the Of war to 90 Bladcaucusus for the purpose Of
trading with the Russians, ready to take arms again
| as soon as the fair has terminated.
| owe have heard the accusations of Ali Kartan,
Mohalnmcd Bcy, and Arral Leng, with an impartial
ear said Mendly Khan rising from his seat let the
accused be brought hther, and we swear by the ra-