Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-07-26
NO AZ
CIRCASSI4NS IN TURKEY Y

The Circassians in European Tur-
key are now estimated at 100000,
and they are the terror Of their neigh
bors, whether Turks or Christians -
Their depredations go on unchecked,
through fear of reprisals. Their
interest at high quarters, through the
introduction of their beautiful girls
to the principal harems at Constanti-
nople and elsewhere, is so great that
IL is found difficult to 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 colonized,
they will prove thorn in the side of
Turkey for many year to come, and
great bar TO progress.
A Clrcassian village impressed me
with the fact That had been among
set OF men with remarkable force
OF character, but whether they pos
sess sufficient amount of selfcontroi
to enable them to become, as a nation,
civilized members of society, is a
doubtful question. One day. the
l
absent during my visit-returned nv
| call. He was a dark man pf middle
height, dressed in the usual long,
dark cloth frocll- coat, with trowsers
and long boots, the tops embroidered
with silver. He wore fez for cap,
and l noticed that his feet and hands
were remarkably small. His weapons
consisted of pair of beautiful silver
mounted flint and steel pistols, and
silver-hilted dagger. He was
CHEEKY, independent character, with
! mace 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 hut
little respect for aaenn and tuum.-
lie was, in fact, the very picture of
| robber chief. lie was q man of great
Influence among his race, and from
him L learned that the Circassians in
Turkey have an organization by
which they assemble a number OF
armed horscmen on any point in an
| incredibly short space of time, and
that by giving the signal he could in
two days haye one thousand at his
own village.
1t SO happened that at this very
period a dispute was going on be-
tween the Turkish authorities and
his own village with regard to tho
slave question. A body of zaptichs
(native mounted policel had heel
IN no vii inc
upon which two of them were Sc zed
by the Circassians, tied up and tlog-
ged, and sent back to their govern
ment employers, with the message
that worse fate would await any
more of these troublesome officials
who should think of intruding their
otficious persons within the sacred
precincts of the village. This was
rather too strong dose Of rebellion
for the Turkish governing Pasha, SO
a body of two hundred and fifty
Turkish cavalry were sent to the
village to enforce order and the law
but the Circassians knew we'll that
they were coming, and the Turks, on
their arrival, found one thousand
Circassan irregular cavalry ranged
up before the village. 1t would evil
IDENTIFY be Il serious affair, ant, might
cause trouble, so the Turkish force
retired for "orders." The Circassians,
reinforced, moved their ground to
strong position, and a powerful force
of Turkish troops, consisting of the
three arms, was sent against them
The Turkish commander was 10th to
fight, not from want of courage-far
from it-but he knew what influence
some of these Circassians had at
court He therefore tried ooncilia-
ton, and summoned then to surren-
der, otherwise he would be under tho
painful necessity Of ordering Il charge.
There was nothing the Clrcassians
would like better SO they begged the
Turks to ''come on" and try it.
There was no help for it, so the order
was given to advance, and forty
Turks were Immediately placed horse
de combat by volley from the Cir
cassians. Another parley now
ensued, and negotiations were pro-
longcd until the Cireassians were
allowed to disperse, and the affair
but / afterward heard that the whole
business had been hushed up. /
endeavored to be present at this
melee, but there was SO much diff
Guilty and mystery in gaining infor-
nation from either side as to timo
and locality that it was over on my
arrival. The numbers concerned
were probably much exaggerated, as
they always are in Turkey.-Baker's
Turkey.
He was leaning OF the top rail, and