New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-22
sCHAMYL AND THE CRCAsSIANs.
WARS WITH RUssIA-SKILL AND HERolsM or
sCHAMYL-TowN OF sUKUM-KALEH-CHAEA

WARS WITH RUSsIA-SKILL AND HEROlSM OF
sCHAMYL-TOwN OF Observation-Disclosures
OF TIE PEOPLE.
Sulum- Kaleh is a fortified seaport in Cir
cassa on the northeastern coast Of the Black sea, and
about 100 miles from Baum. 1t once place of
Importance, and s.supposed TO be the historic
Scbasopois II was captured by the Russians in 1871,
and its dccadence has dated from that time. Tho region
about sparsey settled, the whole province probably
not containing more than about 100000 souls. Recent
dispatches reported that a violent combat had
taken place Monday the Russians being driven
out Ten thousand natives joined the Turks, while the
town was set on fire by them, and the Notifications
seized. "A the surrounding country, said dispatch,
is rising the support of the Turks Further reports
of Russian repulscs have also been received. Eight
thousand troops 800 Crcassans 5O0OOrnes. and some
mountain batteries laye been dispatches to that country
from ConsantinOplc TO aid Instruction in the mount
aims OF the Caucasus. In the mean time II Is
rcportcd that the second Of Schamyl who
lives at ST. Petersburg as an officer OF the
Imperial Guard has been the CircaSan country
TO take part appeasnst the rebellion which has broken
out there tits also curOusy stated that Scamys eldest
son has been sent out by the Turks TO command The
Crcassiaus 1t Will therefore be matter OF interest to
learn remarkable career Of schamyl and OF the
tribes whose chicitdin he was for 2Oycars.
The people of the Caucasus have long been known as
a warlike, adventurous, and somibaIbarous race This
region about 700 miles long, ana varies in width from
90 TO I2O miles. No other country On the globe contains
so many different nations tribes. In Snabo's time 20
dialects were spoken At present there are more than
1OO-PcrSian, Turkish, Finish and TcutOnic words be-
ing among those that found. The prevailing religion
is the NIohammcdan but Christians numbered among
Them For a century and a half they split up into
an infinite number Of clans petty tribes, when the ag
erosion OF Peter tine Great inccnscd them INFO orSau-
za0n and ia 1888 the cucrOachmens OF the Russians
had becore so great that The war cry was sounded and
o. seldom been slcrccd since The Russians have
~ ,f 4i bo,l hoo, greatly. ;nccpsaI at fla, barbara
+ l,,, tovrorI t,e Christians Of Georgia I'm 1871
the Circa,.,a leader was made prisoner and put
death War followed more bitter and desperate than
ever One of their cicuans 80 or 10 years ago, after
years OF hard fighting against the Russians fell at
Hmr with an his friends except ono dead around
him. This young survivor was ScAamyL IIc was 81
years of age said have been silent ant ciruc, man,
learned bproUd his people and believing himself inspired
fr,u Allah. They afterwaId called lila "Ihc Prophet
,yo..,for of fine Caucasus"
His survival of tlc great conflict ut ITimTi had
r1p.1 Of mystery i'm IL for lis people that he was
,rlel Dv them with reverence. and not long aftcrwaIJ
he was again the sole survivor Of battle and cvonuly
established himself ia full and complete authority over
the pcople He made ms headquarters at place built
upon almost inaccessible rocks in the mountains, and
f1rHGcIf with trenches, CaItcu uJrpats aud covered
WAYS. So great did hi. power become against the Eu
sian, that in 1889 the car Nicholas mitatcj ny Dis
holiness and defiance, sent powerful army against
him. with orders 10 capture sch3Iayl alive or dead
great battle fought il which The Russians sun red
enormous losses and schanFIs loi'e was "un'H"'''"
but Schamyl himself escaped but lj was ~ 'Ic li'
tory. Every tribe in the Caucasus was cn'g'I ana III
arms against tic Gar and helped to strengthen 'A'
cause of othamy. lie adopted the guerrilla system oil
warfare and i'm that the mountains ana r"'mes gave MN
continually encouraged them to cross The boundary Line