The Sierra citizen., 1859-11-19


been captured He betrayed for the largest amount
ever offered for the head of ofender-six millions of
oubes The voice of the prophet chief will be heard
no from his native clis, and his people must now
bow to the rule of the oppressor. In Russian dungeon
or the mines of Siberia, his days will end.
Schamyl was born in 1897. Regarding his parents,
but little nothing is known. He educated in the
athletic sports of the Crcassan in which, including
the use Of arms, be excelled his companions. AS
he grew up he passonately fond of hunting, and in
climbing the rugged mountains Of his country, and in
being night after night upon them, he became Injured
to the privaons of the hunter and prepared himself for
the difficult duties of warrior chief. He exhibited
marked sensibity to the beauty and sublimty of
ure, and it said he would often ascend mountain at
the setting of the and remain there long after the
shades of night had fallen. While, however he was
thus educating his physical powers, his mind not
Neglected. When quite young he instructed III Ara
bic and made familiar with the contents of the Koran.
Afterwards he instructed in Mahomean literature
and philosophy. His instructor Dschebal Eddn,one
of the most learned of the Daghesan teachers of heolo
gy By him, he led through all the subtletes of the
Mahomean doctrines. The result of bis teaching ap
pears to have been that he nsted into his pupil habits
of temperance frugality and perfect self control
On reaching manhood, Schamyl became member of
the Government which was in fact free Democracy.
He belonged to the esghan 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 equal, though in fact, he who possessed the
ability, and foremost in vaor and the exercise
of all manly virtues chieftan. The public affairs of
the tribe regulated in general assembly, The old
est and most experienced heard firs but one
|
made laws the tribe being governed by ancient
toms and usage. When these proved insufficient, ap
peal made to the Koran. Offenders tried in
council ring, and punshments consisted chiefly of fines
Schamyls name is first heard of in the wars for Cir
cassian independence in connection with the siege of
Hmri, where he first served disciple of the chieain
Khasi- -Molah. This leader commenced his career in
$780, having aroused his counymen to arms against the
Russians by preaching crusade in behalf of freedom
and the faith He asserted that the first great law
of Mahomet was the law of freedom and the second was
! hat he nd a
my in to all infdes At first, his sue
cessful but at Hmri it ended During his retreat,
chiefain after another deserted him. until only faithful
few were left with him. Among these were Schamyl.
Ensconced behind the walls of Himr they awaited their
fate. The Russian artillery made sad havoc with
these walls but those behind them met their fates gay
singing verses of the Koran. Khas-Molah was killed,
and Schamy, pierced by two balls, left dead His
temperance among his tribe regarded as mracu
lous. KhasiMollah succeeded by Hamsad Bey, and
the latter by Schamy In 1884, the Russians again ad
vanced upon Hmri, but Schamyl attacked them and de-
feated tbem though their forces far superior to his
In consequence of this and other successes, he
garded the greatest cheftan since Khasi Molla and
many tribes that bad favored the Russians rallied
around the leader. On all sides heard the cry
Schmyl is Imam, and the second prophet of Allah"
He issued prOclamaOns calling upon his countrymen to
join him in the upon the Russians His head-cuar
..t .iaa.o, IS pt4ei.st. upon ho sop U
an isolated rock, rising side perpendicuarly six
hundred feet above the river Kossu, which nearly
rounds it, narrow path winds up the rock in which
only two persons walk abreast Assisted by Polish
deSerterS, he cOmpleeiy reVOiutOnIZed CrcaSSlan
method of defence. The Russians attacked this
place, and took it, by losing three thousand men,
Schamyl, however, escaped. Thrice delivered out of
the hands of the nfdes his countrymen regarded him
with greater veneration than before. He took up
his position at Dargo, where he subsequently at
tackled by the Russians who lost in the engagement some
1000 men, Since Them 1872 he has fought the enemies
of his country with varied until the present time
Schamy at the age of thirty seven, is described as
distinguished in personal appearance be in char
acter and intellectual culture He was of middle stat
ho6f DIV hoir small onr1fh Crooion
nose, and complexion fair aud delicate His hands
and feet small He carried himself erect, and had
naturally noble air and bearing. He regarded himself
as instrument of higher power, and held that all
his thoughts and inspirations came Immediately from
Allah. While his ordinary manner calm, his elo
quence was fiery and persuasive. His usual dress was
the that of his countrymen but special oc
casons he white mantle as indicative of his
priestly characteristic second prophet of Allah. He
had three wives and his handmaidens captive Rus
slams. AS ruler, he evinced much ability. He found
most of the different tribes of his country separated not
only by customs and traditions but often by blood feuds
He managed to bring them into harmony that now
there is 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 formed he the head He be-
eved to have held direct communication with Heaven
twice year. retreang for that purpose to of his
apartments or to some There he tasted and prayed
until he received the Divine commands He had always
body-guard with him. selected from his Murids His
revenues raised by the levy of polltax of silver
roube upon every family By economy he had laid aside
considerable amount for maintaining his government
The number of his troops exceeded twenty thou
sand, while the Russian army in Crcassia during the
past twelve fourteen years. has numbered from one
hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand men,
Il
i THE TWIN RosEs-Far down lone secluded valley,
seldom trod by the foot man. by the murmuring brook
whose pure waters wander through bright green fields
and shady lanes, CREW. side by side, two bushes
Long had they grown together nourshed by the passing
stream and hiding themselves from the rude gaze of the
world happy and content in the solitude in which nature
had planted them. One bright summers morning, two
green buds appeared upon the trees very small
they were at first it is true but day by day they grew
in size and beauty, each day growing ovelier, till one
morning there appeared upon the stems two beautiful
white roses With strange delight they raised their
heads and looked trembngly around but naugh in the
green valley resembed themselves and with wonder at
their newund existence step by step they neared
other and twned themselves into one No longer were
they unnoticed by ALL the peary brook The other
flowers of the field acknowledged their superiority and
bowed their heads before them but the twin roses heed
ed them not All day long their perfume foated through
the valley casting sweet incense the summer air
and night drew Nigh silently they crept together,
closed their pale leaves and hung their modest heads
toward the stream Then the bright stars came forth
the pale silently performed her journey on high the
through them and the night birds sweetly sang till
morning dawned Once pebble rolled down the noun
tain into the brook causing its pure waters to dance
all sides. Then the dew-drops kissed the pale roses
and again the brook flowed as before Oh then how
beautiful was the valley! But the white roses not
always to deck the stream. One day rude hand culled
one of the flowers and bore it from its companion Days
passed. but the solitary held not up its head
formerly silently it dropped and finally wthered-and
In. bV saw thp hrOo