174 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



dwellings close together in one or more circles or parallelograms, so that 

 the inner space may aftord a large cattle- yard common to all, which has 

 but one gate, and is entirely shut in, and thus in a measure defended by the 

 houses. 



Outside of the circle stands the house of the prince, which consists of a 

 greater number of apartments ; and here and there are also single buildings 

 for the reception of strangers. Hound about are placed hay or corn-houses, 

 as well as large baskets securely set in the ground, and furnished with covers, 

 in which the threshed grain is stored up. 



The houses themselves are oblong parallelograms 20 to 30 feet broad, made 

 of wicker-work, closely plaited, and covered with loam vrithin and without. 

 Upon the top of the wicker-work rests a fiat roof of light spar-w^ork covered 

 with turf. The wife has a larger, the female slaves and girls a smaller cham- 

 ber ; the husband usually occupies a separate dwelling. Some tribes of the 

 Circassians fortify their villages by propping up thick posts crosswise against 

 each other, and filling up the interstices below with earth, and those above 

 with thorn bushes. 



The principal food of the Circassians is millet softened with water. They 

 also make of it a kind of bread, as well as their usual drink, which is called by 

 them '■ handkups." Carrots, turnips, onions, pumpkins, and watermelons, form, 

 moreover, a part of their ordinary fare. Mutton, beef, and game, are often 

 eaten by them. Honey, obtained by m»eans of their careful rearing of bees, 

 is converted into mead bv the infusion of hot water, or is mixed with the 

 '" busa," a strongly intoxicating drink, brewed from millet and fermented. It is 

 also eaten, and the wax obtained from it is an important article of commerce 

 with the Circassians. 



The herds are numerous, the country possessing beautiful pastures that 

 furnish sufficient food for cattle, sheep, goats and horses. The sheep have 

 fat tails and fine wool, and out of the latter the women weave very strona: 

 woollen cloth. Wool, as well as cloth and ready-made clothing, the latter 

 being also manufactured by the women, are sold also to the neighboring 

 states- The black cattle are of a small breed, and are used as draught 

 cattle. The horses are exquisite, and in fact the best after those of 

 Arabia. They rove freely over the fields, and never go into a stable. The 

 agriculture of the Circassians is very simple. In spring they burn the 

 herbs that cover the fields, meadows, &c., and this is the only manure that 

 they give them. The soil is then ploughed and harrowed, the harrows 

 beino; trees bavins: the foliasre still remainino- on them. The dance of the 

 Circassians is peculiar. Their games are founded upon activity, strength, 

 and skill. 



The Georgians differ from the rest of the inhabitants of Caucasia in 

 language and form of body. In the north they are bordered by the 

 Caucasus, and in the south separated from nations of different language 

 and origin, by the river Kur, in the mountains of Karabag, Pampaki, 

 Tshildier. and Pontus. Their name is derived from the word '■ Gur" or 

 *• Kur," which is the present name of the river Cyrus of the ancients. The 

 country is called Gurgistan by the Persians, Gurtsh by the Turks, and 

 346 



