The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-07-05
Circassinns in Tnrker-

The Circassians in European Turkey
are now estimated at 100000, and they
are the terror of their neighbors, whether
Turks or Christians. Their depredations
go on unchecked, through fear of repri-
sails. Their interest at high quarters.
Though the introduction of their beauti-
full girls to the principal harems at
ConstantinUple and elsewhere, is so
great that it is found difficult to get
convictions against them They well
know their own power, and unless strin-
gent measures are taken to stop further
immigration, and to enforce the law
strictly over those who are colonized,
they will prove a thorn in the side of
Turkey for many year to come, and a
great bar to progress.
A Circassian village impressed me
with the fact that had been among q set
of men with remarkable force of charac-
ter, but whether they possess a
sufficient amount of selfcOntrol to
enable them to become, as ma
tioD, civilized members of soci-
ETY., is a doubtful question. One day,
the chief of a yillage-who had been
absent during my visit-returned my
call. He was 3 dark man Of middle
height, dressed in the usual long, dark
cloth frOck-coat, with trowsers and long
boots, the tops embroidered with silver
He wore fez for a 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 a silver hilted dagger.
He was a CHEEKY, Independent character,
with a 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
Dleun1 and tttunl. He was, in fact, the
very picture of a rObber chief. He was
a man of great influence among his race.
and from him l learned that the CiIcas-
slams in Turkey have an organization by
| which they assemble a number of armed
hOrsemen on any point in an incredibly
short space of time, and that by giving
the signal he could IN two days have one
thousand at his own village.
1t so happened that at this very period
dispute was going on between the Turk,
ish authorities and his own village with
regard to the slave question. 4 body OF
| zaptiehs (native mounted pOliCe) had
| been sent to the village to enforce Justice
I tpO4 HUI WV VI t4lClA HClH GCtLCu ny
| the Circassians, tied up and logged, and
sent back to their government employers
with the message that worse fate would
await any mere of these troublesome
officials who should think of intrudiDg
| their OficiOUs persons within the sacred
| precincts of the village. This was rather
too strong dose of rebellion for the
| Turkish governing Pasha, so a body O.
two hundred and fifty Turkish cavalry
were sent to the village to enforce order
and the law; but the Circassians knew
well that they were coming, and the
Turks, on their arrival, found one thous
and CircasSian irregular cavalry ranged III
before the village. 1t would evidently
be a serious affair, and might caus
trouble, so the Turkish force retired TO
" orders" The Circassians, reinforced
moved their ground to a strong position
and powerful force of Turkish troops
consisting OF the three arms, was sen
against them. The Turkish commando
was 10th to flight, not from want of cour
age-far from it-but he knew wha
influence some of these Circassians ha(
at court He therefore tried concilia
ton, and summoned them to sure nder
otherwise he would be under the painful
necessity of ordering a charge. There wa
nothing the CirCassians would like bet
ter so they begged the Turks to "com
on" and try it. There was no help for it
so the order was given to advance, ant
forty Turks were Immediately PLACED
h0rs de combat by volley from the Cir
cassians. Another parley now ensued
and negotiations were prolonged unit
the CiTcassians were allowed to disperse
and the affair was to be settled at Con
stantinOple, but I afterward heard tina
the whole business had been hushed up
endeavored 10 be present at this melee
but there was so much difficulty anC
mystery in gaining information from
either side as to time and locality that i
was over on my arrival. The number
concerned were probably much exagger
ated, as they always are in Turkey
| Bakers TfLrkeu.