The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-06-16
The Caucasus.

Popular language gives the name of
Circassians to all the tribes IF the eau
casus, and speaks of them as one people.
This is not so. Some are Christians and
some Mohammedans; some are subject to
the saCerdotal rule of ophet-warriors,
while others are republican mountain
GERS; some have yielded to the tempta-
ton of Russian brides, whilst others, and
this is the largest part, have wholly re-
sisted the temptation; and the relations
between the several tribes are in many
cases far from friendly. Turkey has
never expressed any great desire to be-
come possessed of the Caucasus, and,
were she even to do so, the form of gov
eminent proposed by the Porte would not
be conducive to the peace and tranquility
of the district. At the present moment
the inhabitants of Daghestan, the prov
ince which gave birth to the heroic
Schamyl, are, and always have been, at
war with Russia. The other hill-tribes
of the Caucasus inhabit districts over
which there is no fixed government, and
consequently there is no great difficulty
in treating with them. Each Chief is
something like a Highland Laird of the
olden time, and, in his own territory, is
independent of all control, and acknowl-
edges no superior; but their aversion to
all military control, even under the all
powerful and beloved Schamyl, makes
them doubtful allies when removed from
their mountain homes.
The principal tribes that inhabit the
Caucasus are the Circassians, who &C.
cupy that portion of mountain country
south and west of the sources of the
River Kuban-plateau and gorges be-
tween the rugged peaks, scarcely Access
sible to any but mountaineers, and tn e
Lesghians, who dwell principally among
those mountains situated east and south
of the source of the Terek. AS the
Kuban rises near the foot of Mount Ell
bruZ, and the Terek near that of the
Kasbek, these two mountains may con-
veniently mark the limits of the respect
i've countries of the two tribes. The whole
country from the Kasbek to the Caspian
is often called Daghestan, and it is here
that the main struggles have been car
ried on between Russia and the mountain
GERS. The portion of Daghestan under
the more immediate control of the Les
| ghians is described as being tlanked on
the north with dense forests of magnifi-
cent beeches; twining creepers bind the
| trees together, and vast boulders stripped
by thousands of winters from the granite
and porphyry of the upper ranges, and
borne along by the fierce mountain tor
rents to the valleys and passes which
form their beds, afford every advantage
to the lightly-equipped mountaineer -
every obstacle to an invading force. The
interior of the country is yetmOre formid
able; it is one mass of ridges and ravines
at the bottom of each of which brawl
ing stream, fed by the SHOWS and rivers
of the upper regions, PUSHES down to the
River kaiona or its atfiuents.
The Circassians, of whom there are
b.tribes, the Adigeh, the Ubigeh, anC
others, are Mohammedans, with small
admixture of Christianity. Next to them
are the Abasians, more Jealous Mohamme
dams, who are now in open revolt; neXt
the Ossetes or Ossetians, small Chris
tian tribe, which the Cars began, on this
account, to protect and brought The
priests into their pay; whilst to the east
ward of these are the Tchetchenes and
the Lesghians, all fierce believers in
Islam. Against this country the Cars
have sent the following Generals: Yer.
melotf Paskewich, Gortschakof, the two
Villiaminoffs, Rosen, Rajewski, Aurep
Galovine, Grabbe and Woronzof, but all
have failed in subduing the bold mount
aineers. Even in time of peace Russia
has to maintain an army in Georgia an d
Mingrelia of So, 600 men, and, according
to her own returns, 10000 of these are
swept off yearly by disease or warfare
The population of the Caucasus is l 800
600, but only 10000 fighting men arc
ever available at one spot at given
time.
Such, then, is the country that Gen.
Melikotf has in his rear, and should the
pass of Darrell, which commands the road
to Titis from Kislar, on the Caspian, be
taken, the main artery of communication
with the Don provinces and the Caspian
will be cut off. AS we write, the eau.
casus is in arms for the Sultan; and, al.
though they do not admire the Turk, yet
they cordially detest the Russian. - 0s
ton AdDertiSer.