78 
THE OSSI TRIBE. 
of former times is yet revered in its fallen towers. That ve¬ 
nerable structure, together with one on the opposite hill, was 
the work of the renowned Princess Tamara, of Georgia, nearly 
six hundred years ago. Her zealous piety converted the people 
of her dominions to Christianity ; and we still find, in the moul¬ 
dering remains of the buildings she reared to its honour, in every 
part of this stupendous barrier, the most noble monuments to 
her memory. 
It is said, that the present race of Ossi Christians are amongst 
the most civilised of the mountaineers. This may be: but, in 
spite of their better faith, and better laws, they are occasionally 
not less expert at robbery and murder, than their brethren of 
mahometan and heathen creeds. The men are strong, active, 
and well made ; with dark complexions, and a peculiarly lower¬ 
ing look ; an aspect, more accordant with the latter part of 
their character, than that of their pretensions to piety, and its 
consequent blameless life. 
They are habited in the manner of the Circassians ; and never 
appear without the common weapon of the country, a dagger, in 
their girdle. Its form is broad near the handle, tapering down 
to a long point; the whole being about eighteen inches in 
length. In short, there is a general appearance of offence and 
defence in every thing we see; which must always be the case as 
we retrograde nearer to man in a state of nature, where the law 
of force has not yet given place to the law of reason : every 
body is armed, every house is a sort of little fortress. The ha¬ 
bitation of the late General Kasibeck is built of stone, of a 
quadrangular shape, somewhat like a square fort, being defended 
by a high parapeted wall, with loop-holes, and small watch- 
towers. There is only one entrance, and that is through a very 
