There is a parliament in Circassia, but it does not meet in a house, but in a grove.  Every man who pleases may come, but only old men may speak.  If a young man were to give his opinions, no attention would be paid.  The warriors sit on the grass, and hang up their weapons of war on the boughs above their heads, while they fasten their horses to the stems of the trees.

The speakers are gentle in their tones of voice and behavior.  The Circassians admire sweet winning speeches.  They say there are three things which mark a great man; a sharp sword, a sweet tongue, and forty tables.  What do they mean by these?  By a sharp sword they mean bravery, by a sweet tongue they mean soft speeches, and by forty tables they mean giving plentiful suppers to neighbors and to strangers.  Are the Circassians right in this way of thinking?  No—­for though bravery is good, and speaking well is good, and giving away is good, these are not the greatest virtues:  and people may be brave, and speak well, and give away much, and yet be wicked:  for they may be without the love of God in their hearts.  What are the greatest virtues?  These three, Faith, Hope, and Charity.  These are graces which come from God.

SERVANTS.—­There are slaves in Circassia, called serfs.  But they are so well treated, that they are not like the slaves of other countries.  They live in huts round their master’s dwelling; they work in the fields, and wait upon the guests, and share in the good fare on the little tables.

When a Circassian takes a Russian prisoner, he makes him a slave, and gives him the hardest work to do.  Yet the Russians are much happier with their Circassian masters than in their own country.

Once a Circassian said to his Russian slave, “I am going to send you back to Russia.”  The man fell at his master’s feet, saying, “Rather than do so, use me as your dog; beat me, tie me up, and give me your bones to pick.”  The master then told him that he had not spoken in earnest, and that he would not send him away, and then the poor fellow began to shout, and to jump with joy.

BROTHERHOODS.—­There is a very remarkable plan in Circassia, unlike the plans in other countries.  A certain number of men agree to call themselves “brothers.”  These brothers help each other on every occasion, and visit at each other’s houses frequently.  They are not received in the guest-house, but in the family-house, and are treated by all the family as if they were really the brothers of the master.

A brotherhood sometimes consists of two thousand, but sometimes of only twenty persons.

RELIGION.—­Circassia, though beautiful, is an unhappy country.  The Russians keep the people in continual fear; this is a great evil.  But there is another nation who have done the Circassians still greater harm.  I mean the Turks.  And what have they done to them?  They have persuaded them to turn Mahomedans.  The greatest harm that can be done to any one, is to give him a false religion.