Men brought up in this manner must be wild, bold, restless, and ignorant.  Such are the Circassians.  They care not for learning, as the Chinese do, but only for bravery.  We cannot wonder at this, when we remember what enemies they have in their land.  The Russians have built many strong towers, whence they shoot at all who come near.  But, not satisfied with this, they often come forth and rob the villages.

[Illustration:  Guz Beg the “Lion of Circassia.”]

There was a Circassian, (and he may be still alive,) called Guz Beg; and he gained for himself the name of the “Lion of Circassia.”  He was always leading out little bands of men to attack the Russians.  One day he found some Russian soldiers reaping in the fields, and when he came near they ran away in terror, leaving two hundred scythes in the field, which he seized.  But a great calamity befel this Lion.  He had an only son.  When he first led the boy to the wars, he charged him never to shrink from the enemy, but to cut his way through the very midst.  One day Guz Beg had ridden into the thick of the Russian soldiers, when suddenly a ball pierced his horse, and he was thrown headlong on the ground.  There lay the Lion among the hunters.  In another moment he would have been killed, when suddenly a youthful warrior flew to his rescue;—­it was his own son.  But what could one do among so many!  A troop of Circassian horse rushed to the spot, and bore away Guz Beg; but they were too late to save his son.  They bore away the body only of the brave boy.  Guz Beg was deeply grieved; but he continued still to fight for his country.

See those black heaps of ashes.  In that spot there once lived a prince named Zefri Bey, with his four hundred servants; but his dwellings were burned to the ground by the Russians.  That prince fled to Turkey to plead for help.  What would have become of his wife, and little girls, if a kind friend had not taken them under his care?  This friend was hump-backed, but very brave.  Some English travellers went to visit him, and were received in the guest-house and regaled with a supper of many tables.  Next day the little girls came to the guest-house and kissed their hands.  The daughter of the hump-backed man accompanied them.  The children were delighted with some toys the traveller gave them, and the kind young lady accepted needles and scissors.  But where was the wife of Zefri Bey?  A servant was sent to inquire after her, and found her in rags, lying on a mat, without even a counterpane, and weeping bitterly.  Had no one given her clothes, and coverings?  Yes, but she gave everything away, for she had been used, as a princess, to make presents, and now she cared for nothing.  Such are the miseries which the Russians bring upon Circassia.

THE GOVERNMENT.—­There is no king of Circassia; but there are many princes.

The people pay great respect to these princes, standing in their presence, and giving them the first place at feasts, and in the battle-field.  But though the people honor them, they do not obey them.