The Circassian Chief: A Romance of Russia
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the Urup; those which empty themselvesinto the Black Sea are the Sukhoi, the Mezi, near the Russian FortGhelendjik, the Toughe, the Soubachi, which divides Upper and LowerAbasia, the Kenehili, the Llhena, the Kodos, and the Salmache, whichseparates the country from Mingrelia. Numerous other streams andrivulets meander through the whole country, and fertilise every vale.
At the time to which our story refers, the Russians had succeeded inerecting several forts in the boundaries of the country; those of Anapaand Ghelendjik on the coast, both built under the protection of apowerful army, aided by the guns from their ship. They have establishedalso a line of fortified towns to the north of the Kouban, the principalof which are Ekatermodar, Labinskai, Stavrapol, Alexandrof, andGeorgivesk, forming a road of communication from the Black Sea towardsthe Caspian, called the Valdi Caucasse. But even between these townsthe Russians cannot move except with a strong escort, as otherwise theywould run the greatest risk of being cut off by the mountaineers, whodescending from their fastnesses, frequently make excursions far beyondthem. There are also other forts of less importance, which will bementioned in the course of our history.
The origin of the Circassians, like that of all nations who havetradition alone to hand down their history, is clouded in obscurity.They themselves do not pretend to know from what race they are sprung,but it is certain that they are of very great antiquity, and have in allages been celebrated for their bravery and other warlike qualities,their courtesy, and the surpassing beauty of their women. At one periodthey inhabited an extended tract of territory, comprising the Crimea,and all the country bordering on the Sea of Marmora and the Euxine; butthe tribes dwelling in that country either became amalgamated with theTartars, or were driven thence by the superior numbers of that people,as the pure stock is now only to be found among the mountains of theCaucasus, or in the plains immediately below them.
It seems probable, that the Circassians are of Median extraction, andwere at one time as civilised as any of the surrounding nations, if notmore so: but it must be confessed that they have not advanced, even withthe same steps in the arts and sciences as their neighbours; though theyretain in a greater degree the polished and courteous manners, andheroic virtues which formed the pride of the nations of antiquity. Thetribes which boast of belonging to the purer race, unmixed with anyforeign blood, distinguish themselves by the name of Atteghei, and as inGreat and Little Karbadia, their language is spoken with the greatestpurity. Those provinces have most likely from time immemorial, beeninhabited by the true Circassians, who thence scattered themselves overthe surrounding districts, either by conquest, or by finding the landunoccupied.
The people to whom we give the general name of Circassians, callthemselves Atteghei; some writers mention them as Carbadians, from theirformer country of Karbadia, while the Turks and Russians call themwithout distinction, Abasians.
There are four classes of society among them, the first, that of thePchees or Princes, who are the heads of the most powerful tribes; theOuzdens or nobles, many of whom, at present, have no real power, but whodisdain to intermix their blood with those below them; the Tocavs orFreemen, many of whom possess wealth, and are, except in blood, equal tothe nobles; and lastly, the serfs, or slaves taken in war, who in timebecome incorporated into the tribes of their masters, and may gain theirfreedom. The power of the Princes has of late years much declined,though they are treated with the strictest observances of respect, bythose of inferior rank.
In some tribes, the chiefs are hereditary, while in others, a head ischosen among the principal nobles of their own tribe, for his life,except he should prove incapable, in which case he is deposed, andanother elected in his stead. At times also, instead of the head of thetribe, a leader is chosen to conduct them to war, while the former actsin a civil capacity alone.
In no country is greater respect shewn by inferiors to those above themin rank or age; and in no country has the spirit of clanship beencarried further, all being bound to revenge the death of one of theirtribe on the slayer; and, should the offender not be given up, on thelife of any member of his family; the Lex Talionis, being indeed theprincipal law of the land, as it must be in all countries, where thereis no fixed government to dispense justice.
The government, indeed, such as it is, may be looked upon rather as aRepublic, than as an Oligarchy; for those of all ranks may give theiropinion, and vote at the public meetings, though the princes and chiefsof clans have the most influence, and their sentiments are looked uponwith the greatest respect. Perhaps, no country is more free, orgoverned with so much regularity and order.
Each man may if oppressed, leave his chief, and put himself under theprotection of another; changing his lands at will to any spot he mayfind unoccupied, no one having the right of keeping lands he does notcultivate. Though, for many generations, they have remained undersuccessive descendants of the same chief; they are bound by no othertie, than that of love and respect, while so carefully does each classguard its own privileges, that no chief has ever succeeded in unitingthe whole under his own authority.
Their laws are few and simple, exactly suited to their state of society,and so strictly enforced, that they are comparatively rarely infringed;each tribe being answerable for the crimes of any individual member, whoconsequently offends equally against his own friends. All claims aresettled by a jury, composed of six members from the respective tribes,and are generally arranged by payment of fines, two hundred head ofoxen, being the fine for manslaughter, and so on for theft, abduction,etc. Should the fine not be paid by the time agreed on, the suffererscarry off the cattle, and destroy the fences and fields of theoffenders.
It must be understood, that these tribes of the Atteghei are notdistinct races, but merely families who have been, perhaps for ages,bound together by a solemn oath, to support each other in every way,forming a brotherhood, as it were, who consider themselves so nearlyrelated, that they may not even intermarry with each other.
The religious faith of the people, is formed of a belief in oneomnipotent Being, and in the immortality of the soul; but they have noestablished priests. The elders and most venerable chiefs, or thosemost noted for piety, together with their aged bards, perform the fewand simple ceremonies of religion. Their place of worship is in somesecluded grove of aged and lofty trees, held sacred for ages by theirancestors, whose tombs lie around them.
Let our readers ask themselves, if such worship is not more likely to begrateful to the Divine Being, than the gross superstition and bigotedidolatry of the benighted Russian, who scarcely knows the name of hisMaker.
There is not the slightest doubt, but that Christianity was at one timethe prevailing religion of the country, as there are numerous crosses inall parts, still looked up to with veneration by the people; and thereare the ruins also of several churches. It is said, that in some partsof the interior of the more remote districts of Upper Abasia, the peoplestill profess Christianity unmixed with any Pagan observances.
The Circassians divide the week as among us, considering Sunday as themost sacred day. Easter is celebrated by them as a holy feast, with theutmost pomp, beginning with a strict fast. They have several saints orinferior deities, guardians, they say, of the air, water, the harvest,the summer, in whose honour they hold festivals at stated seasons, as inCatholic countries; particularly one, which they celebrate much in thesame manner as the feast of St. John, in some parts of Germany, bydecking a tree with flowers, lights, and other ornaments. Except onthese particular days, they do not pay their presiding guardians anyattention, nor even then, do they pray to them, but offer up sacrificesby immolating victims on an altar, according to the old Pagan custom ofGreece and Rome. They meet in the sacred groves to pray before going tobattle, and after a victory.
No religious ceremonies take place at their marriages, the couple beingalone betrothed in the presence of their friends, (as is now the lawfulway of coupling people in civilised England) when a feast is given, andgames take place.
The burial cer
emonies, even of a chief or warrior, are simple,consisting of a funeral oration, pronounced over his grave, while hymnsare sung by those who attend the procession to his last resting-place.The anniversary of his death is celebrated with feasts, and prayers overhis tomb, decked with flowers.
Mahometism has of late years been introduced into the Caucasus by theTurks, and some mosques have been established, but it has not gainedmuch ground; their ancient institutions being too deeply rooted in theaffections of the people, though numbers now profess it, but conform toits customs, as far only as their inclination leads them.
The Circassians are, in general, a most abstemious people, livingchiefly on a farinaceous diet, and though possessing spirituous liquorsand wine, they use them in moderation, indulging in them, as well as inmeat, only on their great feasts.
They are hospitable in an unbounded degree, their guest-houses everstanding open for the reception of visitors, but they have been taught,by the vilest treachery, too often practised against