TO THE FRONTIER OF CIRCASSIA. 
belts they had large pistols. By their sides 
were suspended a sabre and a knife. Ball- 
cartridges, sewed singly, were ranged in rows 
upon their breasts. The sleeves of their 
jackets being worn out at the elbows, there 
appeared, through the holes, plates of silver or 
of steel armour, inlaid. This armour was worn 
next the skin, covering the arms, but concealed 
by their clothes. A coat of mail protected also 
the breast and the rest of the body. Some of 
them wore a sort of iron shirt, made of twisted 
mail, or rings so closely interwoven, and so 
well adapted to the form, that every part of the 
body, except the face, was covered. Pallas, in 
his “ Travels through the South of Russia, ’ has 
represented one of their princes on horseback, 
covered by this kind of armour 4 . A bow and 
quiver are fastened by straps around the hips. 
We brought away one of their arrows: this 
they said had actually traversed the body of 
a Cossack horse, and killed the animal upon the 
spot. The Circassians use the bow with great 
skill, never making random shots, but being 
certain of their aim before they let the arrow 
fly. The Russian army very much dreaded 
those destructive weapons; as they are used 
(2) See Pallas's Travels through the Southern Provinces, &c. Vol.l. 
