The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-08


they are like diamonds buried beneath the debris of
mountain grani,e--rough and unsghty, yet suscep-
tble, doubt ofthe highest degree ofpolish Hence
they claim our sympathy 10 an extent lar beyond
what might be felt for an inferior and more brutal
lied race; especially when we reflect that the war
waged against them is one of determination, and
that the desire is to people their country with
ages less adapted to civilization.
The brave manner in which these people have re-
sisted the power of the great autocrat increases our
interest in their fate. IL may lie true, as some uav-
elers say, that they are tyrannica-tbat they will
rob- plumber sell their daughters to the barbarians
who surround their country for wives and sell their
male vassas and prisoners to Turks and Iarars for
soldiers; vet their defence against the Russian power
has been of the most extraordinary character.
The great northern empire found no difficulty in
crushing Poland forever. Her wild Cossacks UNI
der Diebitsch found it easy to pass the Danube,
cross the Balkin mountains, and stand, us it were,
at the gates of the crescent city of Mohammed But,
notwithstanding campaign after campaign, directed
with all the power of the empire against handful
Of poor Crcassians, we find them, after long years
of combat, no nearer conquest than they were hf-
teen years ago. Curious savages these! The Cir
cossians have been, have no doubt much msrep-
resented by the Russians, those in the Russian
interest.
How can they be otherwise than savage, sur
rounded as they have been for centuries, by Turks
and Tartars-one to the NORTH and the other to the
south; while hemmod in on the east by the Caspian,
and on the west by the Black scar
We fnd after this long struggle, Schemil Bey,
with his small army Of mountaineers, equal to a
Russian prince with his $4,000 troops
The face of the country in Circassa is mountain
Gus, interspersed with great many rapid streams
Of pure water IL lies between 400 3V and 45o 40
north latilude and 80 and 46o east longitude. Its
climate is mild in low situations, and cold in the ele-
waited districts. The soil in places is exceedingly
fruitful. Many Of the valleys are said to be most
beautiful and picturesque-vast varieties of trees,
plants, and grasses everywhere met with. Much
of the soil is also rocky and sterll, as mountain
slopes often are.
The Circassians are remarkable for their love Of
horses Their breeds ore said to be nearly as ia
nous and equally as good as the best Arabian
animals. They stamp on the hide OF the animals
marks which denote the blood of the horse; coun-
terfeiting which, they punish with death,
Their country abounds with cattle of all kinds
such as sheep, cows, wild oxen, agali, &c. Game
is also abundant. Hyenas, jackals, and wolves
are also met with Wild boaTrs are found in the
swamps Of the Kuban. In the mountains ores OF
lead, iron, and copper said to be met with Salt
pere is found in abundance. Circassa is said to con-
tain coal or salt. The latter article was formerly
obtained from salt lakes of the seppes to the NORTH
and from the Turks through the ports of the Black
These supplies the Russians have cut off. !
suppose they now live without the use Of it, as our
western Indians prefer to do. Their cattle, though,
may suffer for the want of it.
The Crcassians are said to be tall and straight in
figure slender about the loins, and elegantly form
ed with light skins, fine tresses of hair worn by
females; small hands and feet, with proverbial per-
sonal beauty and intelligent expression Of features.
They are often COMPOUNDED by writers with the
Georgians. One traveller relates a most singular
custom Of iacing young girls, which prevails among
them. When they attain the age of ten or twelve
years, they have leather or other, bandege drawn
Al
I'll their marriage when their husbands cut it loose
with their daggers. They generally go bandaged
from two to SIX years.
The Circassians are divided in their social rcla-
tons into fire grades: LIST, the Pshi, or Pschech-
princes. I'd, York, or Mobiles Sd, Uc.ks, or
Freed men, who have risen to nobility. 4th, the
freed men of these new noblemen, called Begualia.
5th, Yassais. II is said to be death for man be-
longing 10 an inferior rank to marry woman from
the rank of princes, or from any other rank above
him; but he take woman from the ranks be-
low him with impunity.
The shave their heads, leaving single
lock, (like many other barbarous people, which is
Left 70 grow full length The women wear their
hair long. The men wear heavy musachios. Doc
tors, &c, who are nothing more than coniurers,
wear their boards long. II is said the women and
men remove hair from their chins, &c, by the use
of quick lime end orpiment. They, like the Arabs,
are said TO exhibit, their intercourse with stran-
tality.
When stranger enters their country, if first seen
by Circassan, he is liable to be seized and made
slave; but if he enters the country under the pro-
lection of chief, he is from molestation, and
is HOSPITALITY treated. The wife of the k,nak, or
chief, gives her breast TO him to suck, mark of
the greatest hospitality. He, from that time, be-
comes her son, having all the men for his brethren.
Robbery is considered an honorable occupation;
but to be accused of stealing, is great insult Al
though prince or noble would see one Of his own
people ofinferior rank quartered, who should mar
ry his daughter, yet he makes no scruple at selling
her to either Turks, Tartars or other foreigners
Thei, laws are little else than established Gus
toms, administered by council of elders, composed
of princes, mobiles, and some of the more aged and
wealthy vassals. Justice is principally based upon
the law Of retaliation, assessment of damages, &c.
Robbing prince is punishable by the forced resti-
tuition of nine Times the amount--of noble, on
equivalent and fine of 30 oxen-of one vassal
from another, is subject only TO fine. As the SER
vices of the vassals are due to the princes and no.
bes the latter taking from them is not considered
robbery.
In the case of adultery, the offending wife has her
head shaved her slit and the sleeve of her gown
cut off; when she is mounted on horseback, and
sent home to her father, who, if he cannot sell her
kills her.
They are, as might be expected, without learn,
ing. The few that read, do so only in the Arabic
or Tartar tongue, which the most of them can
speak. Their own language, it is said, is without
an alphabet Their lingo is peculiar, differing from
all others.
Their few artisans consist Of cutters, armorers
and goldsmiths They have understood the manu-
facture of gunpowder for ages, which. the album
dance Of saltpetre enables them to prepare with ia.
cility Cattle and children were the chief articles
exchanged by them with the Tartars, Turks, and
Persans for SALT &c, till the Russian wars, in a
measure nut an end to their traffic; which, it is