The Portland daily press., 1896-02-11
THE CAUCASIAN RANGE.
Lecture by George KEENAN, in the Stock
bridge Course.

Lecture by George KEENAN, in the Stock
bridge Course.
A large audience listened to lecture
delivered by the celebrated traveller
George Kennan on the City hall last eve
ming upon the subject of the mountains
and Mountainous of the Caucases. He
began by describing the great height
rugged grandeur, wonderful diversity of
the scenery, climate and vegetation of
the Caucasian range, and traced the
romantic and evenJful history of the
brave and hardy races that inhabit it.
This chain OF lofty mountains rising to
an average height of 1000 feet, an un-
broken we'll of rock about 700 miles in
length traversed by only two practicable
passes which are shut in by walls of rock
from 1900 to 1890 feet high, surmounted
by glaciers and eternal snow. When the
range has been crossed, the traveller finds
himself in the almost tropical climate of
Georgia and Mengrelia. The noun
talneers who are mixed race made up
OF contributions from almost every people
in Europe and Asia, have displayed I'M
conquerable courage in maintaining their
Independence. They number about a
million and half, are divided into clans
and live in scattered villages among the
mountains where they pasture sheep and
cultivate grain.
Mr. kennan related how he had been
| led tn aYntnpa fhic II
by the romantic stories he heard in
Moscow from officers of the Russian army
who had returned from the campo gn
which completed the conquest of the
Caucaslans. He accordingly journeyed
to Taman, town at the foot OF the
lane. He gave vivid description of the
strange semi-barbaric appearance Of the
place, the mingled Russian and oriental
architecture of the houses and tie fero-
cious appearance of the people. Prince
Georgia., Caucasian nobleman, who
Georgia entered the place with an armed
escort, and he requested permission Of
him to join his party. Prince Georgia.
sought to discourage him from the jour-
ney. expressing strong doubts that he
would be able to go through the hard
ships and dangers of the mountains Mr..
Kennan replied that he had crossed three
continents and was no stranger to noun
tains, and being somewhat piqued, de
clarod that where the prince would leaf
he would follow. The prince said raj
right in a significant manner and gave
! him the permission to travel with him
After graphic account of the scene pre-
i ssnted on. the starting of the cavalcade
Mr.. KEENAN, retired from the platform
and returned dressed in the handsome
costume worm by the mountaineers Of
Prince Georgaji's escort-a white lambs
wool. bushy with scarlet top, a storm
hood, a long tunic with cartridge tubes
on each. side of the breast and belted al
the waist with a sash whioh held. severa
silver mounted daggers and pistols O. fin,
workmanship. He described the thrill
/ ing scene on their arrival at the frs
town in the nontains, where the armed
and mounted Caucasians charged dowr
at full gallop to welcome them. Thei
hosts in the evening gave an exhibition
OF the national games and sports o
Daghistan for their entertainment ant
Mr.. KEENAN, gave humorous descrip
ton of his own unpleasant experience il
a pastlme where the victim was seated OF
a stool before the company and addressed
in an improvised song by lady who EN-
phasized the special points by belaborins
his back with a sharp stick.
The party travelled on through tn
rugged mountains along preoipices over
hanging, apparently, bottomless ravine
and across raging torrents. The accoun
of the descent ON horseback Of perpen
dicular precipice about $50 feet il
height by zigzag path no mole thai
twenty inches wide in places, dow
which Prince Georgia. led him to test
his nerve was as impressive a story &
could be imagined,
Mr. KEENAN, chanted the Mohammedal
call to prayer in very realistic manner
and described the primitive domestic ar
rangements and social customs of tn
mountaineers, and their forms Of law
] He explained that the Caueasians ha,
J many noble qualities and displayed dis
tinct musical and poetioal genius severa
} examples of which he recited. He toll
: the history of the heoric defence of hi
last strong hold by Schamyl and tire
hundred mountaineers against thu
Russian army.
lie concluded, By picturing the power
full contrast presented when after CROSS
ing the last summit of the Caucasus
, IL, 600 feet above the sea level throug
vapor clouds and snow they saw TIL
broad fertile land of Georgia outstretehe
before them, and they stepped out OF tn
climate OF Siberia into the climate @
Italy, and passed within six hours from
midwinter into midsummer.