CAUCASIA 



417 



CAUCASIA. 



TO-DAY the Caucasus is still full of races differing in religion, language, aspect, and character; 

 but it will only be possible to mention here the more important tribes. 



The Svans, or Svanithians, inhabit the Upper Inghur Valley in South-western Caucasus, 

 forty miles long by about fifteen in width, shut in on all sides by glacier-crowned ridges. 

 The only access from the outer world is by a narrow, and at times impassable, ravine, or over 

 lofty mountain passes. Nominally subject to Russia, as are all the Caucasians, these people are 

 practically independent, and left to govern themselves as they please. Though only 14,000 in 

 number, they successfully resist in their mountain fastnesses every attempt of the Russians to 

 collect taxes from them. This is the more remarkable when we remember that they are in a 

 state of perpetual feud with one another, village against village, family against family. There is 

 no organisation among them; each man rules over his wife and children, and cares nothing for 

 his neighbour. Doubtless the nature of their country 

 has contributed to form the wild and savage character 

 of this people. Herr Radde, the eminent botanist, 

 who spent several weeks among them, thus sums up 

 the result of his experiences: "Amongst the Svans 

 intelligent faces are seldom found. In their counte- 

 nances insolence and rudeness are prominent, and 

 hoary-headed obstinacy is often united to the 

 stupidity of savage animal life. Amongst these 

 people individuals are frequently met with who have 

 committed ten or more murders, which their standard 

 of morality not only permits, but in many cases 

 commands." 



The appearance of the people does not create a 

 favourable impression on a stranger. Their clothes are 

 tattered and shabby, the Caucasian style being un- 

 distinguishable in the collection of rags. Men are 

 seen wearing sheep-skin caps turned inside-out an 

 arrangement which, while it shades their eyes, adds 

 to the ferocity of their appearance. The women are 

 said to be uniformly ugly, and their costume a mere 

 shapeless bundle of rags. 



The men and women, even small boys, are all 

 armed with daggers. Many have pistols attached to 

 their belts, or guns, in sheep-skin covers, slung across 

 the shoulder. The children run about nearly naked. 

 Some of the girls have faces more savage in appearance 

 and expression than those of the boys. 



Wives are bought, or if the intending husband 

 is too poor, the bride must be carried off by force. 

 Remains of churches found here and there testify to 

 the effort of Queen Tamara to introduce Christianity 

 in the twelfth century, but her work has not left 

 much mark on the character of the people. They are 

 highly superstitious, and believe that some of their 

 number have the power of foretelling the future. 



The Lesgliians inhabit Daghestan, on the north- piwto by vii. Bergumasco} [si. Petersburg. 



eastern side of the Caucasus main ridge, and extend A RUSSIAN BRIDE OF THE BETTER CLASS. 



