TRAVELS IN CIECASSIA. 325 



cannot penetrate. On each side rise precipitous 

 walls of limestone, on the summits of which hostile 

 Circassians often congregate and fire down into the 

 very houses of the fort below. They are dependent 

 for supplies upon ships from Souchoum, and are some- 

 times exposed to famine always to war and pesti- 

 lence. To such an existence are doomed more 

 especially those regiments of the Eussian army whose 

 fidelity is doubted ; and, singular as it may appear, 

 the great majority of those men who fall by the hands 

 of Circassians fighting for their independence, are 

 themselves martyrs for the cause of liberty. Thus 

 does the Eussian Government consummate a twofold 

 vengeance, and to the horrors of political exile add a 

 service which forces its victims to fight for the exten- 

 sion of that tyranny by which they are themselves 

 oppressed. The consequence is that the mountains 

 of Circassia swarm with Eussian soldiers, generally 

 Poles, who prefer abject servitude amongst these 

 barbarians to service in the Eussian army. 



We had fixed upon Vardan as the point from which 

 to start upon our expedition into the interior, as the 

 principal chief in the district was an old friend. 

 Vardan is situated about sixty miles farther up the 

 coast than Gagra, and is a somewhat important place 

 among Circassians, as it boasts an apology for a bay, 

 and there is no Eussian fort on either side for some 

 miles : it is therefore a favourite place for that trade 

 Avhich Eussians are pleased to call contraband, because, 



