420 



THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



capital. Every one has heard of 

 the Georgian beauties. Regular, 

 finely chiselled features, clear com- 

 plexions, large, liquid eyes, and 

 erect carriage, combining natural 

 dignity with voluptuousness, are 

 their general traits. They are 

 numerous and influential in all the 

 harems of the East, and their blood 

 flows in the veins of Turkish, 

 Egyptian, Persian, and Tartar 

 grandees. The Georgian ladies 

 are, however, deficient in vivacity 

 and expression. The men are 

 sufficiently good-looking, but with 

 a shade of effeminacy in their 

 faces, expressive of their moral 

 character. The Georgians are 

 simple and hospitable people; they 

 love ease, and will not weary mind 

 or muscle unnecessarily. 



Georgian intelligence is not 

 high. Their brains are generally 

 befuddled with excessive wine- 

 drinking. Few of the humbler 

 classes are able to read and write; 

 many even of the higher are in 

 the same state of ignorance. Pic- 

 turesquely attired, they lounge 

 away their time with music, 

 dancing, and idling. 



The Circassians ceased to 

 exist as an independent nation 

 when their country was occupied 

 by the Russians in 1864. Before that time they numbered 300,000 in the valleys and defiles 

 of the Western Caucasus, east of the Black Sea. Now, owing to emigration, they cannot 

 muster more than 123,000. 



It has long been an axiom of ethnology that the Circassians are a magnificent race. Poets 

 and writers of romance have made the charms and virtues of Circassian ladies the subject of 

 their art. Mr. Barkley, however, formed a less favourable opinion. He saw nothing to admire 

 in the women except their hands and feet. He acknowledged, however, that the men are 

 magnificent, and are to the rest of the human race what Arab horses are to humbler steeds. 

 "Just as a pretty Circassian girl is rare, so a plain Circassian man is seldom to be met 

 with. No people have more beautifully shaped heads, more perfectly chiselled features, or sharper, 

 more intelligent, and yet bolder expressions. They are quick and active in every movement, 

 and as restless as a weasel (an animal they greatly resemble in character); but the most 

 notable parts about them are their hands and feet. I observed hundreds of them, and never 

 saw one that an English girl of sixteen might not envy for shape and size." 



The Circassian is energetic in his movements. He is always in a hurry. He never 

 saunters, but goes so rapidly that he may be known at a distance by his short, sharp step, 

 erect carriage, and general bearing, suggestive of great vitality. Though energetic and active, 

 he hates work. He has no scruple in helping himself to the fruits of other people's labour. 



A GEORGIAN WOMAN, CAUCASIA. 



