The true Democrat., 1854-09-20

sorrow, for they forced on us the conviction that this anxious air or precocious intellect sprang from fear of the future or from regret at being separated from those mountain scenes around which they had so far passed theiryouth. They were clad in tattered clothes of no parti- cular cut or color, and wore no covering on their heads or feet. Their food was the same as that of their parents, and of the coarsest and least substantial kind. It consisted of millet cakes and of spring water, and notwithstand- ing this lnnutritious fare they all had blooming cheeks and the appearance of health and strength. We next proceeded to make close inspection of two females. They were, with the exception oftwo young girls, all considera- ply advanced in years, and destined to become servants or bath tenders. Their faces, which had faded air, produced undoubtedly more by fatigue and hardship than by age, bore an expression of profound sadness and of vague lnquletude. Their looks seemed to interro- gate us as to our intentions respecting them.
 One would suppose that they wished to fa- thom our characters in order to ioresee their own destiny, and when they saw that our visit was one merely of curiosity, they cast their eyes upon the ground and waited until they should be allowed to withdraw. One of these females was exceedingly beautiful. She might be ff- teen or sixteen years old; the look she gave us was that of a proud and naughty soul, but in her manner there was nothing of the pensive agitation which we had remarked in her con- panons and even in the little children. Her large, open and lustrous eyes were expressive of mind that was at once both bold and calm. She no doubt imagined that her beauty would be her protection, and that even her fu- ture master could not help but feel its inhu- ence. It would indeed be difficult to give any thing like an adequate description of this wo- man. But have seen portraits which have strong resemblance to her; they were, how eVer the works of great masters which then believed to have been the creations of their fancy and not the representation of any human oeing A great master does not, however. deal merely in the fanciful, he delineates what he sees or what he recollects that he has seen hat l admired in the young woman was not so moch her exquisite proportions, her grace and her charming countenance, as her noble anu queenly attitude. Her mein was some- thlng like that of Cleopatra, had she dindem on her head one could have taken her for one ot those queens we real of in ancient history or had she on an oaken chaplet, she might have passed Tor prlestesS among the Druids This lovely mountain maid, who h Id passed her liie amid the snows of the Caucasus, and whose lot It may be to become Dne day the wife of q Sultan, wore sorry garment of coarse blue cloth, winch was faded and much stained IL was made after the Turk ish flshi)n, open in front, and exhibited to view ali under garment very much Solled, but embroidered with silk of many colors. This garm nJ >hoWe,i so we'll the graceful development of he bu,. tAa von would have almost sworn that i; u,.s i,ns,. .... ,o h1r It IS quite clear that the.r m |, n.. on Sdperlor seamStresses III the Cluc su, S. wore White muslin vei Cast back, ', ui..l w.s stalled and torn, but 50 tarho d, .lo hef Ike vest, when >le pleased. NJ ..u N hdd contemplated this specimen ot Utuutv, so rare III any country we proceeded to inspect the men who were the fathers or unclcs of ft males and children for sale The greater par ot the Clrcassians speak and understand the language of the Turks and it Was ii this lan guaSe that the doctor interrogated them, and received their answers. 1 shall merely give the translation of my guide:
 "What is the price of this child?" said he to one of the Circassians.
 Three thousand piasters," replied the other; sum equal to about six hundred francs
 And what do you ask for the grl?" said the doctor pointing to the individual just de- scribed.
 Twenty-Five thousand piasters-nether more nor less;" and seeing that the doctor was saying something to me in whisper he add ed: Y" That Is not too dear, for her entire person Is as free from defects as her face. When the quarantine Is over you may make yourself sure on that head. It is only year ago since sold her sister, who Is not in any way her superior. and yet she brought me thirty-two thousand plasters; but as we are at present in greater want of money than we usually are, we shall lower the price to get away the sooner'
 And why have you more want of money now than last yeat?"
 Because we want to buy muskets and pow der, and balls."
 "What! and is 1t for the purpose of buying arms and ammunition that you are going to sell your chldren?"
 Certainly; we wish to drive the Russians from our country, and we have nothing else to sell but our children"
 The idea that these men would engage in such traffic for the purpose of enabling them to struggle against the Russians made me re- fleet gravely for moment. looked at the doctor of the quarantine to see if he shared my emotion; but he had been 50 accustomed to these scenes, that the present one made little or no impression on him, and he now con- fined his attention to whether there were any individuals among the lot who required his services. But in what light was I to regard these people? Could admire those men who carried their patriotism and love of liberty to such pitch as to sell their children? Admi- ration, no doubt felt, but not without sen- timent of deep sorrow. Unfortunately, how ever, on reflection, came to learn that it was not since the war began that these men have en- gagged in this detestable traffic, and that it was not merely for the purpose of buying arms with noble and heroic intention that they were in the habit of selling their daughters, their sisters, Their sons, and their brothers but that it has been practiced by them from time immemorial, for the purpose of satisfying the commonest wants. felt thrill of horror run through me when looked at those obdurate and heartless men, smoking and laughing, and cooly talking about the fate of their own flesh and blood. l wished to leave the odious scene, but the doctor begged me to stop and not con- demn these men before heard them in justi- fcation of their conduct. He took aside a hale old man, the quick flashes of whose eye denoted birth. intelligence and communicative