Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-03

SPcCidl Correspondents Ol L lie Std
TIFLIS, Caucasus. May 81. 1910.
II you will open your atlas to southern
Russia you will notice mountain chain
which extends diagonally
Continental across what looks like a
pornd... narrow strip of land be-
O""AJ' tween the Black and Cas-
plan seas, but it is not as narrow as 1t
looks. 1t is one of the most remarkable
of all geological phenomena on the earth s
surface. 1t is the boundary between Eu-
rope and Asia, and an almost impene-
trable wall which can be crossed by ve-
hicles or hOrsemen in only two places,
known as the Darrell and. the MamissOn
passes.
From the beginning of history until the
middle ages the Caucasus mountains were
the boundary of the world. Beyond them
all was mystery and fable, and for that
reason the ancients made them the scene
OF much NEUROLOGICAL activity and the
home of many marvels. They called the
country Coichis. and it was there that
Jason and the Argonauts found the
golden fleece. Prometheus was chained to
one of the peaks by the gods to punish
him for giving fire to the mortals. With
in the Caucasus dwelt man-hating anna
IONS, of whom scandalous stories were
told, and treasures of gold and silver and
precious stones, unlimited but unattain-
able. because they were guarded by grif-
fins and one-eyed monsters called Airi-
naspians.
The Caesars led their legions as far as
the foot of the mountains; Pompey
fought battle under the shadow of the
highest peak; Alexander the Great re-
cOnnOitered through the foothills seeking
tn fha unknOxVn ropiOnS
yond. All the great invaders of the pre-
historic period smOte the Caucasus with
their ImpOtent swords, but never passed
beyond. and the first Europeans to find
their way through the rocky labyrinths
were Greek and Genoese traders who
climbed through the canyons foot in
the middle ages In search of customers
Much was risked for gold and glory
lasted many centuries here, and it was
not until the territory was added to
the Russian empire early in the nine
teenth century that the Caucasus be-
the Russians built wagon road
through the Darrell pass at cost Of
many hundred thousand rubles. over
which it's armies and their supplies
have since passed into the hinterland.
Shakespeare shared the awe of the an
cient Greeks and was also inspired by
the romance attached to these impas-
sable barriers. He frequently alludes
to the Caucasus mountains in his plays.
For who can hold coal of fire in his hands
While thinking of the frosty Caucasus:
\ =
The range is about seven hundred
miles long, although the distance looks
much shorter on the
Russian map, and 1t bisects the
r.,;4 Russian province of the
Caucasus nnrfhwQSt and
southeast. dipping SO low as it ap-
proaches the Caspian sea that for
thirty miles the coast is only few
feet above tidewater.
That portion north of the mountains
is known officially as the Caucasus:
and that south Of it as the Trans
tory. Formerly. and the names can
territory north was divided into indie
pendent states-Circassia, Daghestan,
Astrakan and the steppe Of the Kali
muckS, but they have lost their iden-
tity. and the thrones of their former
rulers may be found in that marvellous
collection of trophies of conquest in
the Kremlin at Moscow. South of the
Caucasus is the ancient kingdom OF
Georgia and beyond that Armenia, Kur-
distan and the Azerbaijan province Of
Persia.
The geological interest in the eau
casus mountains is due to the fact that
they rise abruptly from two fiat plains.
similar to our western prairies, known
as steppes, and are unique because OF
the simplicity OF their structure. the
regularity of their outlines. the steep
ness of the declivities and the narrow
ness OF the range. 1t is not split up.
as other great mountain chains are.
into secondary and parallel ranges. and
has buttrpSSoS running at right
angles or outlying peaks.
The greatest width OF the range is only
about one hundred and twenty miles: all
the loftiest SUBMITS are on the single
water shed. which for several hundred
miles lOes not sink below eight thousand
feet. ElburZ. the highest peak rises IL, 1913
feet above the Black sea. and OvertOps all
others in Europe. Kazbek, to which Pro-
metheus was chained, according to the
legend is 1853 feet There are seven
other peaks exceeding fifteen thousand
feet and nine peaks exceeding fourteen
thousand feet which make the Caucasus
by far the highest mountains In Europe.
The gorges are more savage; the can
yons are deeper; the peaks are sleeper
and sharper and more diff
Majestic fcult of ascent than those
of any other range in the
0dAS0. world. The Caucasus
mountains are not as beautiful as the
Alps, but are more imposing and ma
jestic
There is supposed to be great mineral
wealth in the Caucasus, and the natives,
in ancient times. on both sides Of the
range, possessed much gold and an
abundance of rough jewels. The crowns
and scepters of the Georgian and Circas-