New-York daily tribune., 1856-05-03
LIFE IN eIRCASSIA.

LIFE IN eIRCASSIA.
LIFE OF scHAMYL; Asp NARRATIVE OF the GnG.ssIS @ 81.
WAR OF ISDEPESDEScE AGAINST RUSSIA. By }. MIL
Co. New York: Sheldon, Lsuport Brakeman.
Mr. Msckie unites the love Of accurate research
With brilliant poetca! imagination. In the com
position of the work, he has seized the rich pit
suresque aspects Of the subject, while showing a
painstaking diligence in the investigation of facts
The life OF his hero has been crowded with incl
dents of romantic interest. II belongs, as the au-
thor Justly remarks, to ga state of society per-
Aaps the most nearly resembling that described in
the songs of Homer which the progress of civilizt.
ton has now left for the admiration of mankind"
Schamyl was born in the year 1877, in one Of
the pastoral districts of the Crcassian territory
bordering on the Caspian Sea. His early educi-
ton fitted him to become leader of the forest
tribes. Among his native mountains the practice
of horsemanship comes before the Lessons of the
school. Wrestling, swimming, shooting with the
bow, the gun, and the pistol, with other athletic
exercises, form the training of the Circassan boy
at an age when children of more civilized lands are
coming the words of the primer and cateohisrn.
scbsmyl is said to have borne the palm over bis
horsemanship
Like that Of all Crcassan youth, it was biz anbi-
oD not only to sit his horse perfect centaur % dash
At full speed up sleeps and down precpces TO leaphe
,basm and to swim the torrent but also on the glop
20 discharge his weapons in instant unslinging hs
sun from behind hi. back aud quickly returning it
10 it, place; to hang suspended from the side of the
bose as to avoid tue am OF the enemy; to spring
TO the ground for the purpose OF picking up something
and az ain vault into the saddle without hating; and
70 take aim with such precision as to hit the smallest
and most inconvenently placed mark while going at
full tilt.
The subduing of half wild horse in the herd which
Is allowed during portion of the year to roam the
woods and hills is also feat frequently practiced BY
the Circsssan cavalier, either for the sake OF securing
the ANIMAL simply az an exercise in borsemanshlp
rider ortwo with lassos. plunge into the midst
of the herd and selecting of the widest of the sta
ions-for are not used under the sadde-secure
him by throwing over his head the moose. Then
the cavalier whp is to make trial of his skill, springs
upon the back of the animal, which, with dilated
eyes and smoking nosr the greatest conster
baiOn. And now cOmmsn the contest between
horse and rider. Furious well as frightened the brute
speeds like arrow over the hills or Down the val
eys. He turns and doubles, baits suddenly, rolls on
The ground crawls his belly, dashes into the midst
Of the herd and tiles in all possible ways to get rd OF
the burden he has fancy for But the intrepid nde
.epossessed and constantly the alert sits upon hs
back as if pait OF the animal, waving bis hand ia
triumph after every struggle terminated in his favof;
and there he continues to sit and hold the mastery un'h
The strong steed, finally exhausted by his efforts, coy
cred with foam, out of breath, and cowed In spnt,
acknowledges the superiority OF his Antagonist.
When tanned, however, the Cnoaslan horse s both
perfectly gentle and attached to his master The pet
brought up in the yard is as playful as Kitten. ine
children gambol with him. His master fondes n'm,
patAng his neck and kissiGg his head On fesai days
and occasions of ceremony be is decked ont With red
cloth trappings; his neck Is wreathed wlth many
colored glass beads; ribbons are tied in bis msne ana
lunches Of wild flowers nod from his foretop. Inc
- sl.( (txoaa IN vi ~
for fear of shedding over them the nagn influence OF
the evil eye for other reasons less fanciul; bnt 10
the praises Of bis steed the warriors ear u ever open
The faithful animal is his companion on al bis e1sur.
.ioIs: he drinks with him the waters which tov
through the plains of the enemy be looks down as
well as himself from the rock on the passing column
and the squares OF infantry; be snares with hun the
dangers of the bayonet aud the bullet; and ueis1'ng,
participates too III the hurTab of the onset and the
shouts Of victory. Trained to sake part In the ambus-
cade, he will creep after his master ike dog, and lie
cTouchiDg his feet in silence. No unkind word Is
spoken TO him. nor is be ever beaten 80 that his
spirit Is unbroker and his attachment 10 bis lord is
manifested by the pleasure be takes in his care sse the
Raoness with which, sno-tins and paving the ground
he ceives him his back the pr e of step and eye
with which be hears him Off the fury with which be
da-hes into the fight and pursues the enemy, and the
intelligent fidelity with which he sbeys every move
mert Of the rein or the hand, dutiful until be falls
bleeding at last on the field of battle, or at very ad-
vanced age Is relieved from further service anu with
cpt tail aud is turned out to Craze the peaceful
pastures until the day OF his death.
At an early age Schamyl exhibited q lively per-
ctption Of the charms Of nature. Old men relate
Of him that he was wont to climb the neighboring
mountains, gazing at the wild scenery in the rays
Of the setting sun, and watching the effects Of the
twilight on the snow-clad peaks in the distance.
With his love of mountains, he nat Iraly combined
. passion for the chase. Circassia Is not without
allurements to this exciting pursuit
The wild boar hunt is the chief spor. in Circassian
venery. This animal frequepts the banks of the NV
ers overgrown with reecs, and the raviues OF the
mountains filed with thicksta Both the valleys and
he msrsbes adjacent plorghed by his sDout; nor
y the fsrmers stock-ysrd entirely secure from the
crunchng Of his tusks lie is hunted with dogs, gcn
eray resembling cross between the greyhound and