Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-25
Circassia.


Ia and its inhabitants
" Circassia, including the Caucasus, compre-
hends several distinct territories or States, as
ossetia, Abasia, Imiretta, Mingretia and Dag
hestan, while some include Georgia once an in
dependent kingdom, under the same general
name. The population is estimated at 100000
which is divided into seventeen different tribes,
which again are subdivided into upwards of
one hundred and twenty independent clans
The strongest and most prominent tribes are the
1cherhess, who occupy the northwestern portion
OF the Caucasian range, and are divided into
stiseen different claRs. The name Of the cor2try
Circassia, is said to be derived from that of els
tribe, IchcrkeSs, which is Tartar, and signifies
a hghwayman or robber, the justice of whose
application the history Of this mountain race
has fully justified from the earliest age. The
AbdsianS, embracing eleven clans, and number
ing 100000 souls, are located southeast of the
former.
On the extreme nights of the Caucasus, amidst
a region of barren rocks and eternal SHOWS,
arc found the Ossetes and the Sesghis, formida-
bic and bold robbers, who are the scourge and
terror of the adjacent territories. An almost
impassablc range near the Black Sea is inhabi-
ted by the Suanes, race almost wild and saw
age. Daghstan borders upon the Caspian Sea,
and lisa largo district occupied by a numerous
population. Mingreliai is another considerable
territory, being part of ancient Colchis, and
extending along the Black Sea about one hun
drcd and fifty miles by forty or fifty inland.
Imiretta part of ancient Iberia, is about eighty
miles long, and bounded by Mingrelia on the
West. Georgia is situated between the Black
and Caspian Seas, North of Armenia and South
of Circassia, having territory of twenty thou
sand square miles, and population of nearly
four hundred thousand souls. Besides these
there are various little tribes and clans of the
greater tribes, scattered through all the corners
of this mountainous region. Their habitations
perched on the SUBMITS of the highest cliffs,
and on the edge of the stoepest precipices, have
a most fearful aspect while the half wild tribes
secured from foreign invasion by the poverty of
their country, and the immense and entangled
forests which surround them, turn their hands
upon one another, butchering their rivals,
burning their villages and subsistng in good
degree by plumber
The Circassians, but still more the Georgians
as is stated by DR.. Rosen, are distinguished for
the symetry of their form and the beauty of
their features, while they do but little in cul-
tiyating the soil live in the most filthy, ll-con-
structed and insufficient novels, subsist upon the
coarsest food, and sell their own daughters for
slaves, or for the harcms of the Turks. Though
the trade in slaves has been nterdicted by the
Porte, it is still carried on, though less openly,
and Circassan girls are bought and sold for
the Turkish harems as before Nor do the fe
males object, as they expect an improvement
in their condition, since they may live at their
case, and even become the wives of Pashas or
the Grand Signor. The common price is from
$50 to 5000, though turk has been known
: to pay even $500 In a case Of rare sbeauty. In
general all the Circassian tribes profess the
l Nahometan religion, which they hold, however,
very loosely, while small part has embraced
Y the doctrines and forms of the Russian or
Greek church. Without schools and without
e books, they have no measure Of education, and
t scarcely any of them possess among themselves
or have mbibcd from the Russians, the smallest
tincture of literature.
A The females, however graceful, are without
f any mental culture, their time being directed
! to oembrodering, weaving, and making garments
r 1t is hardly possible to fina one who can rcad
3. or write. The boys are sometimes taught tc
read the Koran, the Mussulman Bible, by the
priests in the mosques. They have no writer
laws, and therefore usually all their affairs ar,
: regulated in council like our Indian tribes
= the most venerable or the most distinguished
: by bis military exploits, taking the lead. Tht
c government is feudal, the chiefs of the tribe
!, being called PSheeS, and the most exact defer
- cnce required, as in the clans of the Scottish
+ Highlands, to all the claims of rank and prece
: dence. The chiefs and mobiles keep free tabl,
+ and are served by the mobiles and their serfs
Q 1t is said there are no less than thirty diffe
G rent languages spoken by these various tribe
+ and clans, scattered over a territory with al
}, average breadth of 200 miles, with length O
: 800
An APT IIIusTR ATInN COL Enrnnv's Pres