TO THE FRONTIER OF CIRCASSIA. 
only as a necessary, but as an honourable occu- chap. 
pation, they bear in their countenances the most ■ - 
striking expressions of ferocious valour, and of 
duplicity. It, while a Circassian is standing 
behind you, a sudden turn of your head betrays 
to you his features, his brow appears menacing, 
and he seems to meditate some desperate act; 
but the instant he perceives that he is observed, 
his countenance relaxes into a deceitful smile, 
and he assumes the most obsequious and sub- 
missive attitude imaginable. Their bodies, 
especially their legs, feet, and arms, are almost 
naked. They wear no shirt, and only a pair of 
coarse ragged drawers, reaching a little below 
the knee ; but upon their shoulders, even during 
the greatest heat of summer, they carry a thick 
and heavy cloak of felt, or the hide of a goat 
with the hair on the outside, reaching below 
the waist. Beneath this coarse mantle appears 
a sabre, a bow and quiver, a musket, and other 
weapons. Both the peasants and the princes 
shave their heads, and cover them with the 
sort of scull-cap which was before mentioned, 
and which the Turks call Fez. Difference of 
rank, indeed, seems to cause little distinction 
of dress among them, except that the peasant 
further covers his head and shoulders with a 
large cowl. Beauty of features and of form, 
for which the Circassians have so long been 
ViOL. IX. u 
