Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-12-26


The latest news from Europe, Inform rs that
the Circsssians, under .Schamyl. their redoubted
leader, are gaining signal advantages over the
Russians, and are driving them from the valleys
which they have held for long series Of years
The Circassians have always been an interesting
people, both on accoun. of their personal beauty
and singular bravery and spirit but at the pres
ent time they seem especially TO command atten-
ton, being seemingly called upon to play an i'm.
porlant part 10 the affairs of Western Europe
Perhaps short, general description Of their So
cial and political habits may interest our readers.
Circassia, as. it is called by the Turks,
Tcherkessia, is the largest and most important
country of the Caucasus, and stretches from the
Black Sea, on the South, to the river Kuban on
the north. 1t is inhabited by tribes who are chiefly
Nomadc, and whose wealth consists of Aocks
and herds, which they feed on the mountain
slopes, and in the fertile valleys. Brood mares
are esteemed to be amongst the most valuable
of Crcassian's chattels, and their milk is con-
sidered one of his most luxurious dainlies. The
CIrcassians attribute their origin 10 one of three
princes Of Arabistan, Jar bia.) who settled by
the lake Kabardah, but finally separated, the
first to become the founder of the Mengreian ma
ton, the second, of the Georgian, and the third,
of the Circassan, or, as they call themselves,
the Adighe. There are four recognized orders
amongst those pastoral tribes, viz: Pshes or
Princes, Works, OF ancient mobiles, Tfoks, OF
freedmen, and PShilts or Serls. Those orders
are strictly recognized amongst the Tribes but
the members of them are neither exempted
from labor, nor exalted to honor on account of
them. Bravery and eloquence are held in high
er estimation than birth. brave pshilt. or serf,
sits in the divans of princes, and their sons esq
TEEN il an honor to serve him with food and milk.
The young CTcassian goes into battle, whenever
he can use his rifle and manage his horse.
Boys, under IL years of age, are frequently
found performing prodigies of valor against the
Russia, their natural hardihood being sustain-
ed by the Mohamedan doctrine of fatalism.-
Counsels of the tribes frequently held upon
the hills, where they congregaie in all their war
array, and enter into Caies of alliance or settle
disputes that may have arisen between lhem 1t
is on these occasions that the orators shine
Breaches of the oral laws, recognized by the
tribes are. generally settled by fine cattle or sheep
being their pecUaia. Their mode of capital pun
ishment Is by drowning; they lie the bands of
the culprit behind him and throw him into
lake or river. The tribe to which a culprit be-
longs is responsible for the fine imposed upon him
for injury done TO the members of another tribe.
| mn
dental quarrel, may be commuted for few oxen,
but the life Of the pshe would be estimated at
about 500 head of cattle.
The Circassians are amongst the most graceful
and daring horsemen in the world, fact which
they have written on Russian crests for a thousand
times in the last so years. Wnh theil swords
and stubborn sense of independence, they nave
successfully resisted the Russian invasion for
nearly century. Perhaps they may now retail