a country of Asia, situated on the northern declivity of that great mountain range which, under the appellation of Caucasus, fills the space from the Caspian to the Black Sea. This territory extends across from sea to sea, and northward to the rivers Terek and Cuban. Nothing can be more striking than the approach to this region, when from the steppe, or immense level plain to the north, is seen, abruptly rising, the vast mass of the Caucasian mountains. Four distinct groups are clad in perpetual snow, and, above all, towers the stupendous Elbrus, which rivals Mont Blanc in magnitude. The lower intervening range, called the Black Mountains, is very precipitous, and has the appearance of a regular wall. These mountains are not supposed to exceed half the elevation of the Elbrus. At the foot of these stupendous ranges lie a number of fertile and beautiful vallies, which not only feed numerous flocks and herds, but yield, in abundance, maize and millet, the grains chiefly cultivated in this part of the world.

The people by whom this picturesque region is inhabited, present moral and physical features not less remarkable than those of the spot which they occupy. The name of Circassians is a corruption of the Russian term of Tcherkess or Tcherkessians. Neither of these names, however, is known or recognized within the region itself; and, indeed, there is no foundation for our idea of the Circassian territory being inhabited by any single nation. It is filled with a number of small, separate, and hostile tribes, many of whom do not even understand each other's language. Among the most remarkable are the Kabardines, Great, and Little; the Abasses, the Kisii, the Ossetes, with many others, whose names it were needless to enumerate. As they all, however, agree in their general aspect, and are included by the Russians under one name, our object and limits will rather lead us to delineate their common features, than to enter into a tedious delineation of such as are peculiar to each.

Of all the nominal vassals of the Russian empire, the Circassians are in the most imperfect state of subjection. In the archives of the Czars, indeed, acknowledgments of dependence are found as early as the commencement of the present century; but these were granted only in return for temporary aid against attacks from the Tartars of the Crimea, and never led to any farther consequences. Even now, when Russia has established herself in such force on the Caspian, she has not succeeded in reducing these tribes to any form of regular subjection. They own themselves, indeed, her vassals, but they neither pay tribute, nor perform any species of military service. On the contrary, they make regular incursions into the Russian territory, from which they carry off booty, particularly cattle, in large quantities. To check these inroads, indeed, a line has been drawn along the northern boundary of the Terek and the Cuban; it has been strengthened by the fortresses of Modok and Georgiewsk; and the severest punishments have been denounced against such of the Circassians as should transgress this limit. These threats, however, not being put into rigorous execution, the offence continues to be annually repeated. Potemkin endeavoured to conciliate the people by granting titles and presents, and even by raising some of them to the rank of Russian princes; but such favours were, by those proud chiefs, only viewed as new proofs of their invincible prowess, and they became but the more daring in their depredations. At present it is impossible to go with safety even a few miles beyond the frontier fortresses. The Circassians may, indeed, complain on their side of encroachment; since, prior to the present extension of Russian power, they had extended their sway over the greater part of the level country, which extends northward as far the Kuma.

From the causes now noticed, the Circassians, in the face of this great and ambitious power, have preserved entire their political independence, with all the habits of their domestic and military life. Circassia presents now nearly the same picture which was exhibited by Europe during the twelfth century. No general authority exists: the power is entirely in the hands of the chiefs, each of whom holds sway over a certain number of vassals. The pride of birth prevails to a degree scarcely equalled by any other nation. The Circassians may be generally divided into four classes. 1. The Princes, who exercise the sovereign authority, each within his own limits. 2. The Uzdens or nobles, who, with their vassals, attend the prince in war or plundering excursions, but, in the common train of affairs, are nearly independent of him. 3. The Freedmen, either of the princes or uzedn, who, by manumission, are considered as having attained to the rank of uzedn, but are still bound to their former master, so far as relates to military service. 4. The Vassals, who are held by the uzedn in the most complete subjection, and are employed either in agriculture or in menial offices. Over this degraded class, the masters possess the power both of life and death, and of selling them into slavery, which, however, is said by Pallas to be rarely exercised. A friend of ours saw a Circassian prince bring into Ekaterinodar several slaves to sell, with their eyes bandaged, and a leather thong covering their mouth. He professed to have taken them in war; but the circumstances induced a strong suspicion that they were his own vassals, and that these precautions were adopted to prevent a discovery. It thus appears, however, that he was ashamed of selling his own people.

The Circassians are eminently distinguished by beauty of their physical qualities; among which beauty of form, so rare among barbarous tribes, holds a conspicuous place. The men are tall, of a thin but very athletic shape; they have expressive features, a haughty and martial air. The females possess a peculiar elegance of form and delicacy of complexion, which has long been celebrated throughout Europe, and which the admirable productions of Mr Allan's pencil have lately rendered familiar to the eye of persons of taste in this country. This Scottish artist resided for some time among the Circassian tribes. Females in Circassia appear to be less immured than in most eastern countries; at the same time they are equally exempted from any severe labour, and their face is carefully shaded from the action of the sun. The most studious care is taken to preserve the elegance of their form. Their food, when young, consists entirely of milk and pastry, of which too they receive only a limited allowance. They never go from home without wearing a species of wooden clogs to preserve the feet clean and dry, and the hands are carefully covered with gloves. One of the most remarkable appendages is a broad leathern girdle, which, at the age of ten or eleven, is fastened with silver clasps, and is never taken off till after marriage, when the bridegroom, with a sharp instrument, cuts this gordian knot, often not without danger. The face is painted only by those who bear an equivocal character.

The pride of this people is manifested by the contempt with which they treat those domestic ties and affections, which are most cherished by the rest of mankind. The husband never sees his wife, unless in the most mysterious privacy; he considers it as an insult that any one should ask for her health, or even name her in his presence. The arrangements with regard to children are still more extraordinary. At the age of three or four, they are separated from their parents; the care of rearing them is undertaken by an uzedn, of the same rank with the father, but who, from some tie of dependence or obligation, is induced to undertake this office. On him devolves the whole charge of their support, education, and instruction, nor does the parent ever see them till they are presented to him at full age, and completely accomplished in all manly exercises. The foster-father depends for reward chiefly on the gratitude of his pupil, who naturally regards him with at least equal attachment as his natural father. The female children are in like manner placed under the care of the uzedn, who, after completing their education, provides for them a suitable husband; and they are never seen by the father till after marriage. In a country where such paramount importance is attached to birth, unequal marriages are not only held in abhorrence, but are entirely unknown. The prince invariably marries the daughter of a prince, the uzedn that of an uzedn. Polygamy, though permitted by law, is not carried to any great extent, and the female sex appear to occupy a higher place in society, than in most of the other Asiatic countries. The Circassian nobles spend their time almost exclusively in hunting, feasting, and in expeditions for war and plunder. Their chief pride is their arms, on which they often expend large sums; indeed the value of a suit of complete armour for a nobleman of high rank is estimated at 2000 rubles. Those chiefly used are a bow and quiver, which are fastened round the waist and hang down on the thigh; a musket and pistols, ornamented with silver, sometimes even with pearls and precious stones; a helmet and arm-plates of polished steel; and, above all, a coat of mail, composed of polished steel rings. This last is often of such excellent quality, that the discharge of a loaded pistol will not penetrate it. The Circassian never moves abroad without these accoutrements; and a great part of his time is spent in keeping them perfectly bright and clean. The next and nearly equal object of pride is their horses. Beauty is here attempted to be combined with fleetness, strength, and the capacity of enduring fatigue; qualities extremely necessary in the light expeditions in which they are habitually engaged. Every great man has a race of horses belonging to himself, the genealogy of which is conceived to be only second in importance to that of the family. At the birth of a foal, a mark, indicating its pedigree, is burnt upon the thigh, to alter or falsify which mark is considered as a capital offence.

Among the passions, that of revenge prevails, as in all barbarous societies, where no regular forms of justice being established, each individual must vindicate his own cause. The rights of hospitality are held equally sacred, as among all other nations in a similar state of society. A Circassian chief, having received a stranger under his roof, or given him a promise of protection, will defend him even at the hazard of his own life. The firmest pledge which can be given is, that of allowing him to suck a mouthful of milk from the breast of the wife, after which he is considered as one of the family, and his wrongs or death to be avenged to the same extent as if he had really belonged to it.

About the middle of the last century, the Circassians were induced to embrace the religion of Mahomet. They are far, however, from being rigorous votaries, though the precepts of the Koran have induced some alteration on their former habits. They abstain from brandy, tobacco, and hog's flesh; they marry earlier, and polygamy has become somewhat more common.

Agricultural industry has made only a small progress among the Circassians. They raise chiefly millet, with a small proportion of barley and maize; the first-mentioned grain supplies them with bread and with a fermented liquor; and, in case of necessity, is given to their horses. Their only manure is formed by burning the herbage upon the land which they mean to sow. After raising crops for two or three years on the same ground, till it is exhausted, they abandon it, and break up another spot. The animals chiefly reared are sheep, which are valuable, though not equal to those of the Calmucks. Oxen are used chiefly for the plough, or for draught. From the vicinity of hostile tribes, it is seldom safe to carry on even the common operations of husbandry. Men are often seen driving the plough, "clad in complete steel," and ready at the slightest signal to fly to arms. The rearing of bees is a considerable article of industry, and some possess no fewer than 300 hives.

It is difficult to ascertain the precise amount of the population of the Circassian tribes. Pallas supposes the number capable of bearing arms to be, of uzdens 1500, and of their vassals 10,000, but this estimate can include only a few of the tribes. He conceives that these troops, if they could be induced to submit to regular discipline, and to enlist in the Russian armies, would form the best light cavalry in the world.

To the information derived from the Travels of Pallas and Klapproth, we have been enabled to add that of an intelligent friend, who penetrated into Circassia, and resided for some time among these tribes. (a.)