The Circassians* have long been celebrated for superior personal endowments.
The men are distinguished by the elegance of their shape: their stature seldom
exceeds the middle size, yet they are athletic and muscular without being corpulent.
The women have attracted the attention and commanded the admirationof all
travellers; nor can there be a question that in exquisite beauty of form and
gracefulness of manner, they surpass all other people. They are distinguished by
a fair skin, arched and narrow eyebrows, very long eyelashes, and black eyes and
hair. Their profile approaches nearest the Grecian model, and falls little short of
the beau-ideal of classic sculpture.
Of all the Circassians the tribe called Nottahaizi presents the most general
diffusion of personal beauty. Mr. Spencer asserts, in his late travels among them,
that every individual he sav^was decidedly handsome.}
The Circassians are shepherds and agriculturists; and although indolent in
field labor, they are extremely active and vigilant in war, which is their favorite
pastime. They pass much of their time in hunting, and in making predatory
excursions among the adjacent tribes. Like the Arabs, they affect great hospitality,
but they are at the same time selfish and deceitful. Contrary to the common
impression, they seldom sell their own women to the Turks; for this traffic is
mainly supported by unfortunate captives from the different provinces of Georgia.}
The Caratski tribe have, by a singular misnomer, been called Black Circassians;
whereas their complexions, says Father Lamberti, are very fair;; and he
adds, “ that this name was probably given them only because the atmosphere of
the country is always gloomy and overcast with clouds. §
The Georgians are not less beautiful than the Circassians, possessing the same
style of features, but a darker complexion.[| They are extremely vain of their
personal charms, and endeavor to enhance them by dying their hair, painting their
faces, and making their eyebrows join in a continuous line.^f The Georgians are
less warlike than the Circassians, but much more literary and refined; they are
fond of poetry, and have a national love of music. *§
* They call themselves Attighe, or AdigA They are the Zychi of the Greeks and Latins, and
the Tcherkess of the Russians.
t Trav. in Circassia, II, p. 245.
J Klaproth, Caucasus, p. 321.
§ Ibid., p. 286.
II P rof. Bmjmenbach has figured, the skull of a Georgian female, to illustrate the perfect
proportions of the Caucasian head.—Decad. Cran., Tab. XXX.
V F reygan, Trav. in Caucasus, p. 1S6.
The Massiam, who call, themselves Msne,,“ are distinguished lrom all
the neighboring nations by their narrow faces, by the figure of their heads, which
are compressed on both sides, by the,shortness of till' lower part of the face, by
their prominent nosesjgqnd dark brown hair.” They appear to be tlj^aboriginal
inhabitants of the northwest part of Caucasus; but have been reduced to a mere
tribe by constant feuds with the Circassians. .Their language has no.resemblance
to any known Asiatic or European tongue.*
The Ossitinians, ior Irem, are a mere horde of rapacious banditti, speaking a
language allied to the Persian.
The Ingushes and Kists are also lawless communities, who live by hunting
and plunder, and rob for honor as well as from necessity. They worship one
God, without either saints or idols. Similar to thdSe are ,thqse mountaineers of
Daghestan, called Tawlinzi and Lesghi: living in inaccessible retreats, they
descend into the Valleys for mutual depredation, and to pillage travellers.} Their
language is peculiar to themselves, excepting a few words which resemble the
Samoyede tongue.}
It is difficult to form a just estimate of many of these tribes, who are, on the
one hand, degraded by the Mahomedan faith, and on the other oppressed by the
grasping policy of the Russians. Of their intelligence and bravery there can be
no question ; and their moral perceptions, under the influence of an equitable
government, would no doubt assume a much more favorable aspect.
2. The Persians, who constitute the eastern branch of the Caucasian family,
have been celebrated from remote antiquity for their high civilisation, their
national pride and their successful valor. But since the seventh century of our
era, this country has been successively invaded and conquered by the Saracens,
Mongols and Tartars, whose amalgamation with the native inhabitants has produced,
especially in -the large towns,, a. very mixed population. It is chiefly
among the mountain tribes that the indigenous Persians are at present found.
They are a fine, athletic people, with good »yet strong features, which travellers
compare to those of the Highlanders of Scotland. Their complexion is naturally
sallow, and becomes brown from, constant'»exposure; and in the province of
Mazunderan, Mr. Frazer saw some individuals who were almost black.$ Similar
in exterior to the former are the many tribes of the mountains of Talesh, whose
* Klaproth, p. 24*7: . , , ' f Freygan, Caucasus, p. 58.
} Ellis, Caucasian Nations, p. 43. § Trav. in Persia, p. 50.
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