The Nevada Democrat., 1859-11-16
sCHAMYI., THE CIRcAssIAN cHIEF.

II SapAuEs cl oenamyAs the hQte0 CfcassiNu shlet'
Il appears be was betrayed by eome Of his own
followers, who delivered hln Into the hands of
the RussiaAs, and FscsiEsdlen immense reward
from the Russian government for their treaeh-
cry. He was.iaksn to ST. Petersburg, thrown
4 into dungeoh, and the remainder of his days
Twill doubtless hesspent IN the wilds of Siberia.
Schamyl tus oecnpled prominent position IN
hia own 0onntrs gFa warrior and iaw-giver,
and the ipdelnitahle energy aud fertility of re-
source he has exhibited in fighting for the free
dom Of bis country has won for him the regard
aud sympathy OF the Silized world. The fol-
lowing sketch OF this noted chieftan is travelling
the rounds Of the. press; .,.. s Hf
Schamyf was born Ia the year 1897. Regard
ing his parents little or nothing Is known.
According to the customs Of the Circassians. he
vas 81 an early age instructed in athletic sports.
n the contests with his associates, he was al
ways ambitious 10 excel, and when defeated,
would brood over his disappointment even for
days. With such earnestness did he enter upon
the physical part Of his education, that he soon
excelled his companions in riding, throwing the
dejerrid, and other manly sports. AS he grew
up, he was passionately fond Of hunting, and
in climbing the rugged mountains of his coun-
try, and III spending uight after night upon
them, he soon became Injured 10 the pri-
vatons of the hunter, and prepared himself for
the difficult duties of a warrior chief lie ex-
hibited marked sensibility to the beanty and
sublimty of nature, and il is said he would of
ten ascend mountain at the setting of the sun,
and remain there long after the shades of night
had fallen.
While, however. he was thus educating his
physical powers, his mind was not neglected.
When quite young he was instructed in Arabic
and was made familiar with the contents of the
Koran. Afterwards, he was instructed in Ma
hometan literature and philosophy. His in-
structor was Dschebal Eddin, ono of the most
learned Of the Daghesan teachers of theology.
BY him, he was led through all the subtleties of
the Mahometan doctrines The result of his
teaching appears TO have been that he instied
into his pupil habits of temperance, frugality,
and perfect selEcontrol.
On reaching manhood Schamyl became
member of the Government which was in fact
free Democracy. lie belonged to the Lesghian
tribe, and by their system of government he
was chief, who, by general consent led their
warriors to battle. In time of peace, however,
all were equal, though in fact, he who possess
ed the most ability, and was foremost in valor
and the exercise OF all manly virtues, was chief
tain. The public affairs of the tribe were regu-
lated in a general assembly. The oldest aud
most experienced were heard first. but no one
could claim precedence as a right The assem-
| bly, rarely made new laws, the tribe being gov
orned by custom and ancient usage. When
these proved insu uffcient, an appeal was made
to the Koran. Offenders were tried in coun-
Gil ring, aud punishments consisted chiefly of
fines.
Scamyl's name is nrst heard of in the wars
for independence in conn ection with the siege
OF Himri, where he served as discipline under
the Chieftain Khasi-Mollah. This leader com.
lnenced his career in 1880, having aroused his
countrymen to arms against the Russians by
preaching crusade in behalf of freedom and
the true faith. lie asserted that the first great
law of Mahomet was the law of freedom, and
the second was that Moslem shall b. soldier
OF Allah, and an enemy in arms to all infdes.
At first his career was successful, but at Himri
it ended. During his retreat one chieftan af-
ter another deserted him, until only faithful
few were left with him. Among these was
Schamyl. Ensconced behind the walls Of lIimri
they awaited their fate. The Russian artillery
soon made sad havoc with these walls, but those
behind them met their fates, gaily singing YER
ses from the Koran. Khasi.Mollah was Killed
aud Scbamyl, pierced by two balls, was left as
dead. His temperance among his tribe was
regarded as miraculous. Khasi-Mollah was
succeeded by Hamsad Bey and the latter by
Schamyl. In 1884 the Russians again advanced
upon Himri, but Schamyl attacked them and
defeated them, though their forces were far SUI
periOr to his.
In consequence of this and other succe ses
he was regarded as the greatest chieftain since
Khasi-MOllah and many tribes that had favored
Russia now rallied around the new leader. On
all sides was heard the cry "Schamyl is Imam
aud the second prophet of Allah" lie issued
proclamations calling upon his countrymen TO
join him in the war Hpon the Russians. His
head quarters were at AknlgO, which is perch
ed upon the top Of an isolated rock, rising ON
one side perpendicularly six hundred feet above
the river Koissu, which nearly surrounds it. A
| ind tba ,s1k A..
two persons can walk abreast. Assisted by
Polish deserters he completely revOlutionized
the Ciresssian method of defense. The Rus
SLAMS soon attacked this place aud took it, by
losing three thousand men. Scbamyl however
escaped. Thrice delivered out of the hands of
the inlidels, his countrymen regarded him with
greater veneratiOn than before. He now took
up his position at Dargo, where he was subse-
quently attacked by the Russians, who lost in
the engagement some two thousand men. Since
then, lS42, he has fought the enemies of his
country with varied success until the present
tinnn
Schamyl, at the age Of 81, is described as dis
tlngulsbed in personal appearance az he was in
character aud intellectual culture. lie was Of
middle stature. had fair hair grey eyes, a small
mouth, a Grecian nose, and u complexion fair
and delicate. His hands and feet were small.
He carried himself erect, and had naturally a
noble air and bearing. lie regarded himself as
an instrument of higher power, and held that
all bis thoughts and Inspirations came immedi-
ately from Allah. While his ordinary manner
was calm, his eloquence was fiery and persua-
sive. His usual dress was the same as that Of
his cOuntrymen, but on especial occasions he
wore white mantle as indicative Of his priestly
character-the second prophet of Allah. He
had three wives, and his hand-maidens were
generally captive Russians
AS q ruler, be evinced much ability. lie
found most of the different tribes of his country
separated, not only by customs and traditions,
but often by blood-feu He managed to bring
them into harmony, so that now there is in Cir
cassia State. In place of many leaders. there
is now one supreme ruler, and law and order
have taken the place of usage and tradition
He also fused the two opposing religious sects
of Omar and Ali, and Of the Church thus form
ed, he was at tho head. He was believed to
have held direct communication with Heaven