96 CASUALS IN THE CAUCASUS 



the Tatar Bairam, though the damage looked to me 

 far more illustrative of a tumble unawares into a green- 

 house. 



The Tatar Bairam was a savage orgy, and is entirely 

 banned now by the Russians, though it is said that in 

 remote and inaccessible corners this self-mutilation 

 and immolation still goes on. 



This Bairam, a fierce graft on the Mahommedan 

 festivals, is a " that's for remembrance " usage in- 

 augurated by the Amazon Queen Lutra of Erivan. 

 This warlike lady, who was slain in battle with the 

 Russians aeons ago, left instructions to her tribesmen 

 to hack themselves about on a given day, once a year, 

 and after a short time in other hunting grounds she 

 would return — though why a mutilated nation ad- 

 vanced the time of her re-incarnation history sayeth 

 not — and be such a Queen as the world has never 

 known, whose reign would lift the Tatars to a con- 

 dition of unparalleled magnificence. 



Alas, Queen Lutra ! Either her subjects obeyed her 

 behests in too feeble a fashion or another land allured 

 her. Anyway, as Ali Ghirik said mournfully, with a 

 philosophical acceptance of a situation which mattered 

 nothing to him, " She never came ! She never came ! " 



Because Lutra asked a sacrifice they all believed in 

 her, and believe in her furtively still. Had she made 

 the sacrifice herself things would have been otherwise. 

 Caucasian cynics simply don't believe in a feminine 

 disregard of personal advantages. The most laudable, 

 patriotic action of woman's unselfishness would be 

 received with a cnticol " Cherchez I'homme ! " 



