New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-26
THE WAR ~ THR CAUCASUS.

the Caucasus against the encTOacnments OF Russia
no novelty, the war between Turkey and Russia has
induced it with lew interest and importance and in
order that our readers may clearly appreciate all the
elements which will enter into the impending conyul
sion of Europe and Asia we proceed to lsy before
them careful and complete account Of the country
and resources of the Crcassans, and of the long
they have waged against the gigantic empire seeking
to subdue them.
The Caucasus is chain of mountains extending from
the Black Sea to the Caspian aud separating Russia
from Georgia and her other Asatic possessions. The
western part Of the chain slopes toward the Euxine
the eastern sinks into the Caspian in its south eastern
peninsula called ApsherOn, which is inhabited by fire.
worshppers. On the south, the Caucasian spurs touch
the mighty chain of Ararat and in the north dey dis
appear in the steppes of Southern Russia The highest
peak is called Ebrus Elberous and in Persian KAT
Dagh, whence the whole country receives its name.
Elbrus is the mountain Of mythology and OF legends,
and the Circassians call it tue Padshah or Grand
Sultan, oil Spirits Northwest OF this giant, along the
shores of the Black Sea the highest SUBMITS are the
Pelaw-Tepesh and Oshten in the land Of TIE Ashlzes;
the Idekapa and the Shapshich in that of the Adghes
On the south east side of the range rises the mighty
Kasbek in the land of the Ossates and further toward
tie Caspian Borbela 10 Daghestan proper, ShshDigh
in Konba, Baba-Dagh, between the cities of Shrwan
and Bakuu, and the Besh-Panak. Dagh washed by the
waters of the Caspian.
narrow pass called BY the sncients the Caucasian
CAFES and by the Moslems Darrell or Deril-Allah. the
Gates of God, opens north and SOUTH in the high
est part of the range, on the very watershed
that divides the eastern Caucasus aud its tribes from
the western. Numerous streams take their rise on
| 4 Al. ~ A. y,,ka 1.
the chief 1t issues from Mt. Elbrus, flows past the
town of Wuadikalkas and JekatarinOgrad and dividing
into two emptes at once into the sea OF Azol aud
tie Euxine nthe eastern sde the Terek issues from
Mt Kasbek divides the provinces of Little and Great
Kabarda and winding through the land Of the Isehet-
schentzes pOurs into the Caspian 1t waters the most
beautiful valleys of the Caucasus and is the dearest OF
rivers TO the poetical Imagination OF its inhabitants
One of its principal auens is the Maka, along which
gees one OF the military roads trayersng the chain
There are three Of these roads. The western along
the Kuban and on the shores Of the Black Sea is the
least dangerous but the longest between Russia and
1ilis the Capital Of Georgia. 1t begins in kersh 10
the Crmea. The next is the central one, leading
through the mountains. 1t begins in JekaterinOgad,
the Capital of the Cossacks of the Black Sea- winds
along the Tercek to WladIkaukaz, then enters tho
mountains ard divides the landof the Ingushes from
that OF the 0ssetes until it reaches the pass of Dare
there it descends to the village of Kasbek situated at
| the foot of tho mountain, and traversing several
other places ends in Tis The third eastern road,
begins at Astrachan, goes to the town Of Kisar, ira
verses the territory Of the hunks, runs along the
shores of tie Caspian, ending the City of Bakun 1t
parallel to the central route and connected with
it by transverse road from Jekaornograd to Kissr.
Al these roads are strongly fortified and brstle with
boek-houses, redOubts and COssacks.
The material division of the whole Caucasian region
into two distinct parts the western and the Eastern,
with the pass of Darrell for these paratng ne extends
to the inhabitants also The western side is occupied
by tribes some of which are scarcely known,
such the Ubicbes, who live on remote Nights pro
tected by inaccessible precpices Most of these Sc
cuded sayages have hitherto been quiet but are ready
to descend from their Businesses and assa the Russians
on any good occasion Other tribes that live near the
plains are more accustomed to peaceful relations.
Prominent among these the Ossetes Adighes Kab-
ardiaus Abshases all of whom are embraced in the
general denomination of Tscherkessians Crcassans.
notwithstanding that dssimiar dialects, customs, and
political organizations prevail among them. Aside
from the Ubiches, the Ossetes are the most savage
among the western mOuntaineers, but they already
az peace with Russia Their language ia belong
to lie lndO European groups Their religious notions,
we'll those ofthe greaterpart of the other western
tribes a mixture Of Oriental pagansm Islamism
end Christianitythe last recent importation Of Rus
sian missionaries. Thus they sacrifice to idols and at
the same time invoke ST. Michael and the prophet
Elias and in their Churches one can find verses of
the Koran and remains of ancient heathenism behind
the Christian altar.
The Adighes the real Circassians and to them
belong the types of the celebrated Circassian
beauty. Christianity is said to have been introduced
among them in the fifth century, and to have main
toined Itself TO the eighteenth, when it was partly
cverthrowD, especially among the privileged classes,
/ by Sheik MansOur, a Mahometan fanatic, who after
SIX years of victorious struggle finally fell into the
hands of Russians at the torng of the fortress Anapa
in 1891 and died shortly aterwsrd in prison on the
Island Of SholOwetzkoy.
All these western tribes together are said to num-
Der 10000 souls. They form kind of partially
federative State each tribe having its own feudal
institutions, with princes mobiles and peasants
No tie Of common interest unites them firmly; and
there tribes which have for centuries been hostile
to each other Herein consists TIE principal security
Of Russia These Circassians are generally naughty
fierce, impacabe and unrelenting 10 their hatred and
thirst for vengeance. Though at present no open war
exists between them and Russia, singlehanded bush
warfare is carried with the COssaeks that on all
sides surround and watch them.
The Eastern side of the Caspian Gates Is Inhabited