mark of the greatest hospitality, During the five years in which and whom he protects from every insult. [Notwithstanding their love of plunder, these people are gentle and susceptible of friendship; this is more particularly remarked amongst the Noutakhaitsis, who amount to 5,350 families, and who are the allies of the Chapsoukes, their neighbours, who are renowned for their bravery, and whose numbers may be estimated at 10,000 families*.] The incursions of the Circassians into the territory of the Tchernomorski Kossacks, and the reprisals of the latter, keep up a continual war on the frontiers which Russia has for the last forty years fixed as the boundary of the empire. The Russian government has from time to time sent thither troops which, in a country very little known, and of difficult access, have very rarely obtained any marked advantages [and these violent means have only rendered still more fierce, men who conceive themselves to be invincible in their mountainst.] During the last wart with Turkey, the capture of Anapa in 1807, and in 1811 that of Soudjouk-kalé, a small fort seven leagues to the south, and defended by the Turks, would have been of some advantage if they had not been restored to the Grand Seignor at the peace of 1818. At the present day, Soudjouk-kalé is deserted, and Anapa, whose fortifications have been increased, is commanded by a pasha. * This sentence is added by the Rus sians. The sentences within brackets are omitted in the Russian edition. The war bere alluded, to is the war which was terminated in 1812 by the Peace of Bucharest.-ED. This is altered from the original. the Russian flag waved over this fortress, some Christian speculators attempted within its walls to carry on a small commerce with the Circassians. Although it was not sufficiently important to produce a change in their minds [many of them appeared desirous of forming relations with Russia,*], it gave reason to hope that it would be possible in time to establish friendly relations between the two countries. Madame Catherine Bouholtz, the wife of the general who commanded at Anapa, a descendant of a Circassian family, from which she had been carried away at the age of fourteen, used every means in her power to inspire confidence in her countrymen, and to attach them to Russia. In 1811, this lady received with kindness a Genoese of the name of M. Scassi, who had been attracted by commerce to Anapa, and she induced him to give more extension to his affairs, by making acquaintance with some Circassian chiefs. In 1814, after the surrender of Anapa, M. Scassi, who had returned to Russia, asked the government for a transport, in order to convey salt to the roadstead of Pchiate, and to export timber for the arsenals of the imperial navy. He obtained it; and under the protection of Prince Mehmet Indar Oglou, M. Scassi, with the crew of the Russian transport the Danube," landed at Pchiate, where he was was well received. 66 The Duke de Richelieu, who had been the soul of this first expedition, conceived from that time forward the project of terminating a fruitless war, and establishing commercial relations with Circassia. The Russian government approved of the plan, and M. Scassi, attached to the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1817, was charged with its execution. He received for this purpose from the Emperor Alexander a gift of a thousand pounds of salt from the salt works of the Crimea. INVASION OF CIRCASSIA BY THE RUSSIANS. On the 14th of April, Russia declared war against the Porte, and shortly after a squadron of eight ships of the line, four frigates, and twenty-one corvettes, transports, and other ships, commanded by vice-admiral Greigh in person, sailed from Sevastopol to attack Anapa. They had on board two regiments of chasseurs, amounting to about 2,200 men, and a company of artillery under the command of prince Menstchikov. Colonel Perovsky, who was appointed the first in command in the general's staff, received at the same time orders to join him under the walls of Anapa, by traversing the Boughaze, and occupying the neck of land of Djimaité: for this purpose he had 3,000 men under his command, infantry, artillery, Kossacks, and eighty Tchernomorski Circassians, commanded by Sultan Selim Gherei. He was not to march until he should perceive the squadron on the horizon; but having remarked that the enemy watched his movements, he feared, with reason, that they might come in great numbers and obstruct his passage. To avoid this, he determined to send some Kossacks to occupy the neck of sand. They successively seized two Noutakhaitsi, one of whom was the nephew of prince Navrouzokou. On the 29th, colonel Perovsky sent the Ataman Bézkrovnoi, at to the head of 500 horsemen, a company of infantry, and five guns, occupy Djimaité. All the inhabitants of this village had retreated to the mountains, having previously set fire to their houses. The squadron at length appeared on the 2nd of May, and anchored the same day at Anapa. The bad weather, which during three days, prevented any vessel from approaching the coast, placed colonel Perovsky in the greatest danger, for several thousand of the Noutakhaitsi cavalry attacked him on his arrival in the plain of Anapa, and their number was afterwards considerably augmented by Circassians belonging to other tribes. It is fortunate that the garrison of the place, amounting to 7,000 Turks, did not unite their efforts to theirs at that period, by making a sortie. What had been said for several years past of the attachment of the Noutakhaitsi for Russia might have led to the hope that, at least, they would have consented to have preserved a neutrality, and it was consequently useless to employ a great number of troops in the siege of Anapa. On the 5th, the sea being then calm, prince Menstchikov was enabled to effect his disembarkation. On the 6th, the squadron cannonaded Anapa from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.; the troops had to sustain some vigorous attacks on the part of the Circassians, supported by some hundreds of Turks. Some cruisers detached from the squadron seized upon four Turkish vessels, on their way from Trebisond to Anapa, with 940 officers and soldiers; some days before the arrival of the squadron 2,000 had been brought thither. On the 8th the trench was opened. In spite of the difficulties which were to be encountered, the labours of the siege advanced rapidly. A bridge, 260 feet long, was constructed, which secured the communications between the two shores of the Boughaze; and in order to avoid extending the line of his troops, prince Menstchikov cut off the communications of the place with the Circassians, by means of a moveable column. This operation forced the Pacha to make a vigorous sortie on the 23rd of May, o. s., at the head of 1,000 men and five pieces of artillery It was repulsed, and he lost a gun, taken by the young count Tolstoi, at the head of some Tchernomortsi Circassians. Anapa was pressed still closer, and everything seemed to announce pacific dispositions on the part of the Circassians of the neighbourhood, when, on the 28th of May, (9th of June), at break of day, crowds of these mountaineers immediately covered the heights which commanded the town, and fell upon the outposts: on the other hand, the garrison took advantage of this unexpected attack to make a sortie. The loss of the Russians was at first considerable: 175 grenadiers of the brave 13th and 14th Chasseurs were the most regretted, but prince Menstchikov soon avenged them. The Turks were in part cut off from the VOL. LXXVIII. town and repulsed by the bayonet, as far as the sea, where many of them perished. Those who endeavoured to save themselves on the southern side, precipitated themselves from the summit of the rocks, and expired on the spot. The mountaineers were also put to the route, and were pursued by the Russians for twelve wersts. After this affair, prince Menstchikov gave orders to burn all the Circassian houses situated in a line of fifteen wersts from Anapa. The siege thenceforth made perceptible progress; the works were carried to within 160 yards of the town, and the guns of the bastions, struck by the Russian artillery, were dismounted. The major part of the troops which had made the last sortie had not been able to return to the town, and had been forced to seek for refuge among the mountains. Of ten Turkish merchant vessels, which were at anchor before Anapa at the beginning of the siege, three were sunk, and three more seized by armed schooners, under the command of the captain of the frigate "Niemtinov." The entire success of the affair of the 28th of May, had allowed a line of circumvallation, reaching on both sides to the sea, to be firmly established. After some days, the works were carried as far as the glacis, and on the 10th, (22nd) of June, the descent into the ditch being rendered practicable, and three breaches having been opened, the Pacha was, for the last time, summoned to surrender himself a prisoner of war, with the garrison. He at first insisted upon the right of retaining arms and baggage, declaring, that if this were not granted, he would defend himself to the last extremity: the negotia2 B tions were then broken off; and they were already preparing for the assault, when the deputies of the town returned, and announced that it surrendered at discretion. On the 10th, (23rd) of June, at noon, Anapa was occupied by the Russian troops, who entered it, preceded by a priest in sacerdotal habits, and holding a cross in his hands. The garrison was reduced by death, and by the flight of great numbers of officers and soldiers to the mountains, to about 4,000 men; eighty-five pieces of cannon, all of brass, and abundance of warlike stores and provisions, fell into the hands of the Russians. The garrison of Anapa was sent into the Crimea, and only a few hundred married people obtained permission to return to Anatolia: some neutral vessels transported them thither. Sixty-four Tatar Adalis, and two old women, obtained permission to remain at Anapa. On the arrival of the Russian troops, Osman Pacha had sent the greatest part of his riches into the mountains, which he wished to obtain again, when, being made a prisoner of war, he was forced to leave his fortress, and go to the Crimea. The Circassians, always ready to take advantage of any means of procuring property for Other Turks, who had retired to the mountains with their possessions, experienced a much more wretched fate, for nothing was restored to them, and they would not suffer them to depart. All the On the 5th of April, 1832, on the proposal of the minister of finance, in Russia, the council of ministers issued a notice, approved by the emperor, regarding the permission to form establishments on the north-east side of the Black Sea, and in the bays of Soudjouk kalé and Ghélendjik. peasants of the crown, citizens and merchants, who should establish themselves there, were to be for twenty-five years free from all taxes and duties, and from the obligation of military service, with the exception of that of their own personal defence against the mountaineers. CLASSES OF SOCIETY AMONG THE CIRCASSIANS. There are two kinds of princes, the Khanouks, who are not very numerous, and the Pchis. The second class is composed of nobles, some of whom become very powerful by allying themselves with numerous families [and bear the title of Vorks or Usdenes; they are allowed, as well as the princes, to wear red shoes. The vassals very much in the same manner as those who existed in Europe in the feudal ages, live from father to son in dependence, under a prince whose fields they cultivate in time of peace, and whom they defend in time of war. Each of them possesses some land and some cattle, over which the prince has no right: he has none likewise over the vassal himself, nor over his family, which, if they should be discontented, are free to go and fix themselves elsewhere. It is only by his right of punishment that the prince can sell them, and in such a case the affair must be judged by an assembly. These classes differ but little in dress, and in their domestic habits, the most perfect equality reigns amongst them. We may add to these a fourth class; viz., the captives made slaves in their excursions, whom they either sell to the Turks, or keep amongst themselves: their children in general all become vassals. I think the number of Russians included in this last class may be estimated at about 3,000. [* All strangers who fall into their hands, having no Konak, form likewise a part of this class; they are treated with humanity.] It is difficult to imagine how these people, who have slaves themselves, and to whom liberty is the first of blessings, can persuade themselves to sell their children. A father has this right over his offspring; a brother over a sister, when deprived of their parents; and a husband also can sell his wife if she be guilty of adultery. To be sold is often the sole wish of a pretty girl, because she is then certain of filling a place in a Turkish harem, which they prefer to their Circassian mode of life. It is no rare occurrence to see some of them return to their country after having obtained their liberty. The accounts which they bring back of the joys of these voluptuous prisons, and the sight of the presents with which they return, suffice to determine the fate of many, who request to be sold. Few of the princes, however, sell their children. *This is added in the Russian translation. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN CIRCASSIA. Two Circassians possessed some lands in common, upon which grew a tree which was stripped of its bark by one of the two proprietors; he soon after ceded his share to his companion, and went to reside in another district: the tree withered, and in order to bring it to the ground the proprietor set fire to it; whilst it was burning, a man wishing to approach in order to light his pipe, was crushed by its fall. The family of the deceased attacked the proprietor, and de manded of him the price of the man whose death he had caused. The practice was an established one: it seemed as if he could have nothing to oppose to it, when convoking an assembly, he proved that having only set fire to the tree because it was dead, the former proprietor ought to be condemned to make the payment, because the thing would not have happened if it had still preserved its bark. The whole assembly applauded him, and decided the cause in his favour. |