The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-06-14

The following is an extrac, from The recent letter
by stepnak on the condition of the Caucasus. which
was published In the London Times:
:" II is precisely In the north and west of the eau
casus. the regions first annexed 10y Russia, and
over which the tchfnortuS have consequently
longest held sway. that the condition OF the country
is the least satisfactory. Extensive micratons of
the indigenous inhabitants have left IT almos, with
ont population. Great stretches of land once belong
ing to the mountaineers were made over 10 Cossack
Settlers and distributed among government func-
tionares but the latter, either because they I'M
skilled in husbandry or out of sheer idleness,
have let their farms for the most part run TO waste
The Cossack Settlers unable, for similar reasons
make living out OF the soil, are maintained at The
expense OF the government, aud districts once In
high state OF cultivation and inhabited by thriving
peasantry are now covered with brushwood and al
most depopulated and the whole country presents
an aspect OF abandonment and ruin.
1.-THE difference between the condition Of the
country under the rule Of the rude mountaneers and
under that Of the Cars chinorniks Is striking and
uexation to Russia. The district inhabited by the
warlike Cabards was formerly covered with superb
gardens and productive vineyards, and the natural
fertility of the soil increased by admirable
system Of irrigation. But when the Russians took
possession all changed by the stroke of some
wicked enchanters wand The canals have fallen
into ruin, the acacia walks have disappeared, and
the magnificent lime trees have been cut down for
the fires OF Russian funcnonaries. The traveller
may now journey for miles and find on his way only
destruction and waste.
Albeit thirty years have elapsed since the conquest
reconciled to the Russian yoke, continue to leave
their homes en- Dlasse and take refuge In Turkey.
terstic of the system OF colonization pursued by the
Russian government. II might almost seem as If
its object were TO depopuatc the country, for no
sooner did mountain tribe make their submission
than the authorities offered them the alternatives of
descending into the valleys and placing themselves
directly under Russian rule or emigrating. Most of
the mountaineers preferred emigration, though in
quilting their homes they had to leave behind them
erty of the Cossack colonists They made In crowds
for or other of the ports on the Black Sea- hum
dreds dying on the way of sheer want and prvation
Vlrt in fhn TnttN m ha uranst,
went sudden change. Seeing that the land was
falling out of cultivation and the country becoming
depopulated the authorities began TO throw imped-
ments In the way of the emigration they had for
merry encouraged, and IN 1867 1t was forbidden by
special enactment. In ls,s, when two mountain
tempted to carry out their purpose without waiting
for an answer, they were forced back by soldiers
and the leaders arrested and exiled TO Siberia.
con many occasions moreover, the government
has not kept faith with the Circassians. When the
Tche,chentsy were conquered the Russian COM
mander-in-chief Prince Bariatinsky issued a proc
lamation In which he so,ennly guaranteed them in
the undlsurbed possession of their properties. Yet
despite this PROMISE the greater part of their land
was connscated and bestowed on Cossack and Rus
sian functonarles and the unfortunate Tchetchensy
were driven into corner of their ancient domain,
there to live as best they could. Smarting under the
injustice inflicted on them these men took 10 bri-
gandage and became the terror of the country.
1.-THE object of these measures was, Of course, to
Russanize the Caucasus, and. by weakening and
impoverishing the people, to keep them In complete
subsection and prevent future rebellion but their in
evitable effect was TO cause feeling of bitter hatred
against everything Russian, above all against the
Russian governments hatred which subsequent
proceedings Of the administration have rendered
Still more bitter and inveterate. There are one
measure and one law for the Russian colonsts and
another measure and other laws for the Circassans
For instance the former have the privilege of elect
ing their own village mayors and communal chiefs,
while the commissioners set over Circassan VIII
lagos are chosen by the police who naturally appoint
their own creatures-men for the most part utterly
ignorant of the wants and ways of the people and
hostile to their religion, Justice is equally partial
there is no such thing equality before the law II
Cossack kills native the authorities always pre-
tend that the act was committed in selfdefense and
the aggressor generally gets OF scot-free. When a
Russians the victim tisyery different. In that cas-
whether there be proof or not, the authorities ALWAYS
assume that the murderer must be Circassian and
punish an entire district for the fault of single in-
vidual. Whenever crime is committed In a village
the perpetrator OF which cannot be discovered, the
entire commune, sometimes several neighboring
cOmmunes, are held responsible and dealt with ac-
cordingy Another cause of heartburning and strife
is the question of .dsarmament for mountaneer
dlsarmed is man dishonored, and as the Russian
coonists always carry weapons native without Is
at the mercy of the first Cossack he meets. Hence
every attempt to enforce the law in this regard is
hercely resisted and often attended with riots blood
shed, and rebellion. The ill-feeling arising from
this state OF things Is by no means limited to the
Circassians A Cossack looks upon mouniaineer
as q savage whom II is his duty TO keep In order,
and whose life he is no way bound TO respect, while
a mountaineer regards Russian as worthless cur,
whom, when occasion offers, he may Kill with impu-
nifty"