Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-07-11
Circassians in Turkey.

I The Circassians in European Turkey
are now estimated at 200, 900, and they
are the terror of their neighbors.
whether Turks or Christians. Their
depredations go on unchecked, through
fear of reprisals. Their interest a.
high quarters, through the introduction
of their beautiful girls to the principal
harems atConstantinople and elsewhere,
is so great that it is found difficult Il
get convictions against them. They
well know their own power, and unless
stringent measures are taken to stop
further immigration, and to enforce the
law strictly over those who are colo
nized, they will prove a thorn in the
side of Turkey for many year to come,
and great bar TO progress. a Cireas-
ian village impressed me with the fact
that l had been among set of men
with remarkable force of character, but
whether they possess sufficient amount
of self fcontrol to enable them TO become.
as nation, civilized members of society,
is a doubtful question. One day the
chief of a yillage-wbOh had been absent
during my visit-returned my call. He
was a dark man, of middle height,
dressed in the usual long, dark cloth
frock coat, with trousers and long
boots. The tops embroidered with
silver. He wore a feZ for cap, and
noticed that his feet and hands were re-
markably small. His weapons consisted
of pair of beautiful silver mounted
flint and steel pistols, and q silver hilted
dagger. He was CHEEKY, independent
character, with sufficient amount OF
dignity, and he made himself quite AT
home. His sharp and somewhat fierce
eyes ranged quickly over everything
that was in the room, and there was an
expression in them that bespoke but
little respect for meam and tHum. he
was, In fact, the very picture of rot-
Der chief. He was man Ofgrear infiu-
ence among his race, and from him l
learned that the Circassians in Turkey
have an organization by which they can
assemble number OF armed horsemen
pt any RtiAAA IA az 4A4NANhibAN NlNAL
space of time, and that by giving the
signal he could in two days have 900
at his own village. 1t so happened that
at this very period dispute was going
on between the Turkish authorities and
his own village with regard to the slave
question. A body of zaptietS (native
mounted police had been sent to the
village to enforce justice, upon which
two Of them were seized by the Circass-
ians, tied up and flOgged, and sent back
to their government employers, with
the message that a worse fate would
await any more of these troublesome
officials who should think of intruding
their OfIiciOus persons within the sacred
precints of the village. This was rather
too strong a dose of rebellion for the
Turkish governing pasha, so body of
250 Turkish cavalry were sent to the
village to enforce order and the law;
but the Cireassians knew well that
they were coming, and the Turks, on
their arrival, found one thousand Cir
cassian irregular cavalry ranged up be-
fore the village. 1t would evidently be
a serious affair, and might cause trouble,
so the Turkish force retired for
''orders." The Circassians, reinforced
moved their ground to q strong posi-
ton, and powerful force of Turkish
troops, consisting of three arms, were
sent against them. The Turkish COM
mander was lOath to fight not for want
of courage-far from it-but who knows
what influence some Of these Circassians
had at court? He therefore tried con-
and summoned them to sur
render, otherwise he would be under
the painful necessity of ordering
charge. There was nothing the Circas-
SLAMS would like better, so they begged
the Turks to 'come on'' and try it.
was given to advance, and 40 Turks
were Immediately placed hors da combat,
by vOlley from the Circassians.
parley now ensued, and nego-
tiations were prolonged until the Cir
cassians were allowed to disperse, and
the affair was to be settled at Constan-
tinople, but | afterward heard that the
whole business had been hushed up. 1
endeavored to be present at this melee.
but there was so much difficulty and
mystery in gaining information from
either side as to time and locality that it
was over on my arrival. The numbers
concerned were probably much exag-
gerated, as they always are in Turkey.