Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
Tn TIE I.ITTLE TRAYEF,EDGzI1e

Written for The Evening Star
1t is only short journey from the civil
lied cities of southeastern Russia into the
rugged wilds of the Caucasus that noun
famous boundary land between the orient
and the occident. where the manners and
| customs of medieval times still prevail and
a mans daily life is still ehock full of
thrilling adventure and stir ing romance.
Now that parts of the Caucasus are linked
by railroad with European Russia, it is
possible TO pass in few hours from TWEEN
tieth century civilization to an envli comment
that might have been compounded out of
the days of Robin Hood and the Thousand
and One Nights"
Though they are nowadays policed by
the Cossacks, the brave and hardy noun
tain tribes of the Caucasus are still the
freest of all Russas subjects. After more
than century of war with them. Russia
has found it best to drive them with a
loose rein and wink at a good deal. of their
brigandage and internecine warfare.
There are many old mer now living
among the tribes in Daghestan who took
part in the wonderful fight maintained
against the cars hordas by Prince
Schamyl from 1881 to Is o. They speak with
pride of the frequent victories they won
over Russian forces which outnumbered
them by ten to one. Naturally, they do not
dwell with equal ms. S cree upon their de-
feats. Listening to these stories told round
the camp fire, the young men become pos
seSSed of spirit of unrest; and that is
why tribal fights, small insure ctions
against the Russians, and isolated acts of
brigandage are 50 common all through the
region.
cleverly. The sons of the tribal chieftains
are frequently lured away from their
mountain villages by the offer of comms
sons in the Russian army and large grants
n NM NEnl- tnl AVID
trained IN civilized ways at the military
academy. They take to their profession
duck takes to water. and advance with
remarkable speed. Thus it comes about
that some of the highest officers in the
Russian army today started in life as bare
footed little barbarians in mountain VII
lagos of the Caucasus
Best and Bravest
This is particularly true Of the Ossetes,
whom the Russians call 1.-The gentlemen of
the mountains because of their fine quail
tiles. They are the best and bravest of all
the Caucasian tribesmen An Ossete on
his mountain heath is fine looking crea-
ture. He usually stands over six feet, and
has stalwart. martial bearing. He looks
every inch the comic opera brigand, with
his picturesque eastern costume of at least
half a dozen colorS and his sash full of
silver mounted pistols and daggers. He
would rather fight than eat. At the least
affront to his honor or dignity, he Is ready
10 engage in deadly combat. If you look
at him he may take it an insult: and il
you don't look at him he may be equally
enraged at the neglect.
But though he is so difficult to get along
with. he has his good poins. He is a chival-
rous foe and a stanch friend. with a splen-
tful stock of the primitive virtues. LAS
brave as an Ossete'' and 'As honest as an
Ossete" are common sayings throughout
the Caucasus.
nSGin fok TO live fho hoe Of
terms with these warlike mountaineers
and there are dozens of Ossete chieftainS
in the commissioned ranks of the cars
army. They take to civilization readily,
and are lions in society. They cut US out
alike in the ball rooms and the boudoir,
said a Russian officer to the writer. 1.-The
Russian soldier Is famous as dancer all
over Europe. but the Ossete beats him He
is famous. too. for his ability to make
himself pleasant to ladies. but there. again.
he is beaten by the OSsete, who was an
ignorant barbarian only a few years ago"
Primitive Customs.
The .Ossetes who stay at home in the
Caucasus retain their primitive tribal Gus
toms and pagan religion. Until few years
ago they practiced deadly family vendettas
like those Of Corsca-'blood revenge they
called the custom: but the Russian authori-
ties stamped it out after infinite trouble,
and tribal crimes are now atoned for by
the payment of cattle to the injured parties
on a cast-iron tariff drawn up by the Rus
SLAMS.
The aueerest custom of the Ossetes is