Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-05
TIE CAUCASUS.
It's Inhabitants, n Cireasstans nnt
Other Tribes,

It's Inhabitants, M Clreassiaus md
Other Tribes.
Boston Advertiser
Popular language gives the name Of
Circassians I all the tribes Of the eau
casus, and speaks OF them as one people.
This is moi so. Some are Christians
and some Mohammsdans; some are sub
ject to the saeerdotal rule of prophet
warriors, while others are republican
m~ountaineers; some have yielded % the
temptation of Russian brides, whilst
others, and this the largest part, have
wholly resisted the temptation; ana the
relations between the several tribes are
in many cases far from friendly. Tur-
key has never expressed any great de-
sire to become possessed OF the Caucasus,
and, were she 10 do so, the form Of gov.
eminent proposed by the Porte would
not be conducive to the peace aad tran
guilty Of the district. At the present
moment the inhabitants OF Dsghestau,
the province which gave birth to the
heroic Schsmyl, are, and always have
been, al wal with Russia. The other bill
tribes of the Caucasus inhsbit districts
over which there is no fixed government,
and consequently there is great difficulty
10 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 scknowl.
eyes 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 Circassisns, who occu.
by that portion Of the mountain Country
south and west of toe sources OF the river
Kubsn-platesu and gorges between the
rugged peaks. scarcely accessible TO any
out m~onntaineers; and the Lesghians,
who dwell principally among those
mountains situated east AID south OF the
source OF the Terek. As the Kuban rises
neal the foot Of Mount Elbruz, and the
Terek near that Of the Kasbsk, ~thesetwo
mountains may conveniently mark the
limits OF the respective countries OF the
two tribes. The whole country from the
Kasbek TO the Caspian is often called
Daghestan, and il is that the main strug.
giles have been carried on batween Rus.
sia and the mountsineers. The portion
OF Dagbestan under the more immediate
control Of the Lesghians is described as
being thanked on the north with dense
forests of magnificent beeches; twiniug
creepers bind the trees together, aud
vast boulders stripped by thousands Of
winters from the granite and porphyry
OF the upper ranges, and borne along BY
the fierce mountain torrents TO the val.
leys and passes which form their beds,
afsrd every advantage to the lightly
equipped mountaineer.-every obstacle
to az invading force. The interior Of
the country is yet more formidable; it is
one mass of ridges and %ravines, at the
bottom Of each Of which a brawling
stream, fed by the SHOWS and rivers Of
The upper regions, rushes down to the
river Kaiona or its afiuents.
The CircassiAns, OF whom there are
sub tribes, the Adigeh, the Ubigen and
others, are Aohemmedsns, with a small
p
admiXtpre Of Christianity, Next to them
are the Abasians. more jealous Moham-
medans, who are nov 10 open revolt;
next the 0ssetes or 0ssetians, a small
Christian tribe, which the Cars began,
on this account, 10 protect, and brought
he priests into their pay; whilst to the
eastward Of these are the Tchetchenes
and the Lesghians, all fierce believersin
slam. Against this country the Cars
have cent the following generals: Yer
meioB, Psskevich, Gortschakof, the two
Vllliaminotfs, hosen, Rajewski. Aurep,
Galoyine, Grsbbe and Woronzoff, but all
have failed in %subduing the bold noun.
taineers. Even in time Of peace, Rus.
STA has to maintain an army in Georgia
and Mingrelia Of $4,000 men, aud, &C
cording TO Der own returns, 10000 Of
these are swept of yearly BIZ disease or
warfare The population Of the Caucasus
is l 500 600, but only 10000 fighting men
are ever available at one spot at a given
time
Such, then, is the country that Gen.
Melikof has in his rear, and should the
pass Of Darrell, which commands the
road 10 Tihis from Kislar on the Caspian,
be taken, the main artery Of communities.
ton With the Don Provinces and the
Caspian will be cat of. AS we write, the
Caucasus is 10 arms for the Sultan; aud,
although they do not admire the Turk.
yet they cordially detest the Russian.