KARATSCHAI. 



427 



re remarkably delicate, they have large black eyes, 

 and a fair complexion. They bear a strong resemblance 

 to the Georgians, and none are ever seen with the broad 

 flat face, and oblique eyes, which denote the blood of 

 the Mongols. The men wear woollen garments like 

 the Circassans, resembling a close surtout : the women, 

 on going abroad, dress in cloth and furs ; but, in the 

 warmest weather, have only a light under garment of 

 white cotton. When of more advanced age, a white 

 handkerchief is worn over the head, but the younger 

 females hive a cap of silver lawn, and plait their hair, 

 which is tied with a white ribband, and falls down 

 their backs after the Circassian fashion. 



The hou-f- of the KaraUchai are built of fir, with 

 very small windows ; they have no fire places, and are 

 kept extremely clean. They sleep on carpets and pil- 

 lows, retting on wooden bedsteads little elevated from 

 the ground. The principal utensils consist of a variety 

 of copper kettles, which are brought by the coast of the 

 Black Sea from Natolia. 



At the territory inhabited by this tribe is fertile, 

 abundance of wheat, barley, millet, and tobacco arc o!>- 

 tained by cultivation ; and plenty of game is caught in 

 the wood*. The Karatschai keep many sheep, asses, 

 mules, and horses, the last of small size, but strong and 

 spirited, and admir.ibly adapted for travelling :\- 

 the mountains. On growing old and unserviceable, the 

 tail and mane are cut off*, and they are turned out to 

 feet! in the woods, where they become very fat, and be- 

 ing killed, the flesh ii dried for winter provisions. The 

 Karatschai make a kind of beer resembling English por- 

 ter, another beverage called Losa, and they also distil 

 a little brandy from wheat and barley ; but the former 

 ii chiefly used, strong liquors being forbidden by their re- 

 ligious precepts. Formerly they were very fond of pork, 

 now it 11 held in abhorrence, ami the person touching a 

 hog U deemed impure. They are indebted for this in- 

 convenience to the labours of a Turkish missionary, who 

 rted them to the Mahometan religion about the year 

 < Karatschai were formerly pagans ; they are 



observance, deeming it a great crime to omit the fasts 

 and prayers prescribed by it. They are, however, ex- 

 ceedingly superstitious, believing in malevolent demons 

 which haunt the mountains ; and of which they relate 

 numberless stories. Divination is also in vogue, espe- 

 cially to anticipate the success of the chace. Forty-one 

 pebbles, pease, or grains of corn, are disposed in a ccr- 

 tain arrangement, and, from particular rules, conclu- 

 sions are deduced. Should the omen prove propitious, 

 ther hasten to fulfil their object ; should it be adverse, 

 nothing can, induce them to attempt it. 



On the decease of an individual, the -women howl, 

 beat their breasts, and tear their hair. The men attend 

 the funerals, lash themselves on the forehead, and man- 

 gle the lobes of their ears with their knur-. But, on 

 returning from the funerals, their grief is drowned in 

 copious libations of beer. 



Parent* generally seek out a suitable match for their 

 son ; as it u not customary for him to communicate his 

 design of marrying to them, lest they should disap- 

 prove of his choice, and prevent the match. When 

 they have decided, the parties are betrothed, but the 

 marriage is deferred six months, or a year ; nor during 

 ;ill that time are they permitted to see each oilier. Nei- 

 ther can the youth enter into conversation with the pa- 

 rents of the female until the union has been actually 



completed ; and it is even judged indecorous that he Karatsehai. 

 should sit in their presence. Previous to marriage, the - V~" 

 parents of the bride receive a kalim, or present, which 

 is called the price of blood : and if the bridegroom be 

 wealthy, he sends her a complete dress, which she puts 

 on when conducted to him in the evening by a train of 

 youths. On the wedding-day, an entertainment is gi- 

 ven by each at their respective dwellings, but onlv to 

 those of their own sex, excluding the other ; and 1 

 vities ensue for three days, accompanied by particular 

 dances, performed by the youthful of both sexes. In 

 general, the Karatschai have only one wife; some 

 among them, however, have two or three, with whom 

 they live in perfect felicity j and, contrary to the prac- 

 tice of other mountaineers, treat them with kindnc<- 

 and affection. The common people live with their 

 wives, who are permitted to see and converse with 

 strangers. Among the higher ranks, each wife has a 

 separate habitation ; no one may approach her, except 

 her husband, whose visits are never in the day-time, 

 but only at night. Should the wife of a person of high 

 rank have no offspring, his male illegitimate offspring 

 by slaves succeed him in all his prerogatives and po-. 

 sessions, equally, as if they had been of lawful birth. 

 Cases of seduction or adultery become a matter ol' pub- 

 lic intercut. The seducer is conducted to the mosque, 

 and thiTt- tried by the elders of the tribe, who banish 

 him from their territories. The father turns his disho- 

 noured daughter, and the husband his adulterous wife, 

 out of the house, nor is either ever forgiven ; and some- 

 times the affair terminates in the death of the offender. 

 The disgraced family then quit the country, to conceal 

 their shame. 



Three different ranks seem to be acknowledged Difference 

 among the Karatschai ; first, princes ; secondly, nobles ; of rank, 

 and thirdly, commons or peasants; but all are tributary to 

 the Circassians, who are considered their only supr, 

 There are three families of princes, who are entitled to 

 exact the attendance of the nobles in their equestrian 

 excursions ; and they may, besides, take the use of any 

 person's horses, provided these be soon returned : but it 

 does not appear that they derive any revenues from the 

 tribe. They marry the daughters of the Circassian 

 nobles, who take their daughters for wives reciprocally. 

 Thus, on the whole, they should only be considered 

 nobles of the highest rank. Neither do they seem to 

 enjoy any real authority over the people, though they 

 exert their influence among them. Important mat- 

 ters arc discussed by an assembly of the elders in 

 their mosque. Should a son be disobedient to his pa- 

 rents, he u placed at the door of the mosque, and se- 

 riously exhorted to reform. If the admonition proves 

 ineffectual, his parents, after providing him with a few 

 necessaries, turn him out of doors, which he is never 

 again permitted to enter, and disown him ; and should 

 his conduct still prove reprehensible, he is expelled from 

 the village for life. The Karatschai swear by the Ko- 

 ran to observe their agreements ; and a violation of the 

 bargain is attended with forfeiture of five or ten sheep 

 to the village. After paying this penalty, the covenant 

 may be renewed ; and no instance is known of its being 

 infringed a second time. 



Children are brought up in a strict and commenda- Education. 

 ble manner. Many persons commit the education of 

 their sons to the priest, or mnlla, who instructs them in 

 reading and writing, in which having obtained profi- 

 . , they are appointed to chant the Koran in the 

 mosque. 



The Karatschai are the most polished and best dispo. 



