THROUGH KUBAN TAHTARY, 
dancing and rejoicing on account of the peace. 
One of their vagrant musicians, exercising a 
profession much esteemed by all nations in the 
infancy of society, and particularly among the 
tribes who inhabit Caucasus, performed upon a 
silver flute called Camil. It was about two 
feet in length, and had only three finger-holes 
toward the lower extremity of the tube. The 
mode of blowing this instrument is as remark- 
able as the sound it produced. A small stick 
is placed in the upper end of a flute open 
at either extremity ; which, being drawn out to 
the length of an inch, is pressed by the per- 
former against the roof of his mouth. It is very 
difficult to conceive how any tones can be pro- 
duced in this manner, as the performer’s mouth 
is kept open the whole time, and he accom- 
panies the notes with his own voice. By the 
violent straining of every muscle in his counte- 
nance, the performance seemed to be a work 
of great difficulty and labour ; the sounds all 
the while resembling the droning noise of a 
bagpipe. We wished to purchase the instru- 
ment with a quantity of salt, the only money 
they receive in payment; but its owner, deriving 
his livelihood, and consequence among his 
countrymen, entirely from his flute, would not 
consent to sell it. The Circassians know nothing 
of the value of coins, using them only to adorn 
