was tremendous, breaking right over our heads, and it was so very cold that it was impossible to hold fast by any thing; Colonel Pollen asked me if the round house, where the ladies were, would stand; I told him yes, as long as the bottom of the vessel. I then left him, and went aft the vessel. It was now about half past nine, but no boat appeared; we all thought it very long in coming, our situation being dreadful, the vessel en tirely under water, except about the round house. Mr Rannie cried out very much, but was soon washed overboard, and after him, about ten o'clock, Lord Royston, Col. Pollen, Mr Bailly, and Mr Barker, one sailor, Lord Royston's servant, and Mrs Barnes's, were all washed away within a few seas of each other. I saw the two servants go and get hold of them, but they were obliged to quit them, which grieved me very much; as for Lord Royston and Col. Pollen, I never saw them after I left them holding by the round house. I then jumped from the mizen-mast into the round house, and Mrs Pollen said immediately, "Smith, where is my husband, is he safe? I told her he had got in the ship's boat safe on shore; which I believe gave them all spirits, in hopes he should soon bring them the life boat. I did not stop there ten minutes, but went out again, and saw the life boat; it was now eleven o'clock, and a most tremenduous sea rolling over us; the captain and two sailors were on the bolt sprit, and two dead seamen by them. The boat came close to the vessel, but filling with water, went away. I then thought we must be all lost in half an hour; but she returned, and the captain' with two of his men, got into her. I went to the round house, and took Mrs Barnes or, in hopes to get her into it; but alas! the sea was too strong for me; we were both knocked down twice, but I always recovered her again by the help of God. I was now too weak to help myself, so I got her May 1809.

safe back to the round house, and went forward, but was washed overboard; the boat picked me up, and I remem-* ber no more till five o'clock in the morning, when I found myself at Memel. I asked the people if the lifeboat had gone off again, and they told me the Captain said there was no one on board. What was his motive I cannot tell. The boat went off six times that afternoon, but never could reach the ship, the wind and sea were so tremendous. They must have past a most dreadful night, the sea rolling over them, and the cold so very great, by which Mr Folk, of Hamburgh, died about three in the morning.The life boat went off twice in vain, the third time she got to the ship, and brought away Mr Barnes, Mrs Pollen, Mr Halliday, and Mr Paraza; there being left on board, Mrs Barnes, her two children, and a Russian boy belonging to Mrs Pollen. Mrs Barnes's maid, and a child of two months old, with Colonel Pollen's man - servant, in assisting them to get into the boat, were all washed away; the girl and child were got on shore in half an hour, but could not be restored. Mrs Barnes remained on board three hours longer with only her children and the Russian boy; the people of the life-boat said they saw them perish, which I told the commodore was not true, and that she was certainly alive Captain Davison, an Englishman, jumped into the boat, and brought them all safe off.

none, if an inconceivable, laborious care, continued for centuries, had not constrained Nature herself. We must often wonder at the temerity of uncultivated art, by which immeasurable gulphs are united by strong stone or wooden bridges; very dangerous, tho' passable roads, carried over impracticable rocks; streams confined to a particular course; and wholesome spring water carried every where by pipes, or canals cut out of the rock; and certainly by men, to whom ought not to be attributed either such industry or penetration. The sight of their houses is awful, for they appear only to lean against the rock, and yet they are sufficiently commodious and firm. As the soil on most of the rocks is sparing, or at least never too plentiful; and as the level is too small to give the proprietor sufficient room, he increases it to the very summit by wellcontrived terraces, made of dry, thick walls, often very high and long; fills the intermediate space with rubbish and stones, and at last with earth; and employs those terraces for gardening and agriculture, round which fruittrees are planted, that give shade to the field and to the inhabitant, and present a pleasant object to the eye. The maintenance of these terraces requires very great attention. Altho' they carefully prevent the falling of the soil, yet they must, every year, carry up fresh with great labour, to be able to sow and reap to advantage these artificial fields which often extend miles, or to promote the growth

of grass.

As different as the tribes and languages of the highest mountaineers are, yet they are generally called Legi, Teksi, Lesghae, and Leginski, according to the difference of the customary pronunciation of the limitrophe nations. They call themselves Legi, Leksi, and the whole south-west range of the mountain which they inbabit is named Lekistan, and Kiafir Kumuk, Some are subject to their

peculiar prince; others are under the direction of a chief, whom they choose arbitrarily and alternately; and some solitary tribes, dispersed amongst the rocks, are abandoned to themselves and their barbarism.

Many are separated according to their tribes; more according to their race; and all observe a perfect degree of equality and liberty! Even those who are subject to an hereditary prince, only acknowledge him and his family as noble. There is neither servant nor slave amongst them; and if any one has gained particular merit by striking actions, these, and not his person, are the highest prized.

They are the terror of the Armenians, Persians, and Turks! Liberty teaches them valour, and that makes them formidable to all their neighbours. The want of many of the most necessary articles of life obliges them to become robbers, and to consider every thing they can purloin as their lawfully-earned property. On that account, their weaker neighbours, who inhabit the middle and front ran ges, are often exposed to their depredations, if they do not endeavour to anticipate them by presents. For the rocks, on which the Lesghae alone is sufficiently known, and where he can find out his secret track, protect him from all foreign attacks and secure him entirely. He fears neither accusation nor punishment for his plunderings; and is assured, that the least surprise which threatens him, immediately calls forth men and defenders from all quarters; for, in the danger of any neighbour, the whole country watches for his protection; and, after the evil is averted, they return to their huts, where, with salubrious air, and fine water, they live to a great age.It even seems to flee from them; for thirty and forty years appear to have no effect on their vigorous constitutions.

The ancestors of the Lesghaes, who were never subdued by the A

rabs,

rabs, opposed, at the beginning, the Mahommedan religion with all their power; they even murdered the hero and converter Abu Musselim. But their, descendants suffered themselves to be circumcised, and the grave of that devout man became their sacred relic. Yet some old tribes remain in a state of ignorance; blind heathens, who trouble themselves about nothing less than the doctrine of faith; make to themselves a god out of every thing that only causes a strong impression, and never change the object of their veneration. A stone, the point of a rock, the sun, moon, or a star, a spring, a stream, or tree, is often a divine object; before which they never will deny and betray the truth, except when it is possible to make the object of veneration an expedient.

The Muselman, a neighbour of those heathens, is only distinguished from them by circumcision, and the errors of a different superstition, which is particularly peculiar to the rude Lesghaes, and increases daily, as they are not better instructed. For, as it has often occurred, that they seized and sold the Dervishes, or Mullahs, who wished to teach them the faith, the zeal for proselytism is extinguished, and no converter will any longer visit them.

Almost every tribe has its peculiar dialect, and really many words of a language foreign to the rest of Cauca sus; yet they understand one another the more readily, because their ideas are not so decidedly elevated, as to require a refined intellect to express them. But each tribe understand themselves best; and I might almost maintain, that each was formerly a separate people, with its peculiar language. In letters, and other graphical information, they employ the pure old Arabic, and yet its preferable beauty has never induced them to adopt it generally. On the contrary, they are so jealous of their old insufficient language, that they will not allow child

ren of different tribes and languages to intermarry.

However wild, independent, and equal they are among themselves ; yet, on account of order and personal security, they are bound to follow an old Arabic law-book, called Ismail Koran, that is generally received in eastern Caucasus. The Irrpeli, Kubten, and Karapdugh tribes, are the possessors of that book, and three elders are the expounders of it. They represent a kind of court of the highest appeal: for if the accuser can gain no hearing from other lawyers and judges, or the accused is not satisfied with their verdict, they generally submit their cause to the determination of the Ismail Koran. Even the princes of Caucasus are bound by it, as soon as a complaint against them is brought before it; and though they very rarely employ its decision to their advantage, or palliate their injustice by any specious law, yet no one dares to oppose or disobey that tribunal.

Even the slave finds a hearing, if, dissatisfied with his master's treatment, he accuses him. Robbing on the frontiers, tumults, maiming, murder, &c. have their settled punishment.If, in the last case, the offended tribe will not procure satisfaction by some other means, and demands vengeance of blood, which is always avoided as much as possible; because then more of the exasperated tribes, who take a part, are generally killed than can bẹ buried on the spot.

Adultery, fornication, and other unnatural vices, are quite unknown amongst them: their statute book does not even contain the names of such crimes. Neither is it a custom among them, though some say it, that a stran ger can go freely to a woman, if he only lays his cap, shoes, and arms, before the door, to intimate to the husband, or to strangers, that the wife and her guest must not be disturbed. This is as much unheard of, as inçest and suicide..

Duek

Duelling, now and then, takes place amongst the chiefs of the Lesghaes, which always ends, and must end, in the death of both combatants. When their bitterness is so great, that neither the intercession of the judges, nor the respect due to their highest tribunal can avail, they meet the first opportunity beyond the frontiers, and begin a most violent attack with the dagger, (Kintschall,) and wound each other as long as their strength remains; and when the wearied hand can no longer hold the dagger, and both combatants are rolling in blood, they scratch and bite to that degree, that often, even in death, one or other obstinately holds between his teeth a piece of flesh, which he carries to the grave.Should either survive, he dares not leave the field, nor much less demand assistance to bind up his wounds, but he must wait for death; and if it comes not, the wounded often mournfully intreats the passenger to put an end to his torment, which is insufferably imbittered by the reproaches and taunts of the spectators

As these people are mostly without trade and manufactures, and agriculture and breeding of cattle are even scarcely sufficient, and produce no further advantage, (for the soft, fine sheep's wool, serves for their own use, and is manufactured by the women, into coverlets, coarse stuffs, and felt cloaks,) so the husband has no other means of supplying the wants of his house than by war or plundering.Thus, then, they join the party of particular leaders (Belled,) who have gained their confidence; them they follow every where, without opposition, and share good and bad luck together, as long as the hope of gain leads them on, and their Belled has been guilty of no errors. When any one betakes himself to them, and promises obedience, he holds a piece of rotten wood, or a fire brand, in his hand, and says, "May I become so, as soon as I am faithless, and forsake

thee !"-Hereupon he receives the smack on the hand, and presses, with both his, the right hand of the leader, as long as he talks of his enterprise. If two or three grown-up brothers are in the same, house, only one engages in robbery or war; but if there are more, they always observe the proportion of a third part going abroad, and the rest remaining at home, to labour for their common good.

Any of the neighbouring Princes of Persia can rely upon the assistance of these people, and receives the number of troops he wishes, if, besides the necessary provisions, he pays each man ten or twelve roubles, for that is the price of a campaign; which, from the very day that the Lesghae finds himself at the appointed place, must end in three months.

The manner of enlisting is too particular not to be related. Those princes who require their assistance, first send heralds, or criers, to the leaders of the tribes: after they have agreed on the price, these messengers wander through the mountains, and prcclaim, "that such and such a prince wants a certain number of auxiliary troops, against this or that enemy." Now, tho' it often occurs that the messengers of the adverse parties meet, and employ their persuasive eloquence for the advantage of their lords; yet it is not allowed, at the time, to declare hostilities against each other, nor that their auxiliaries should do it; but every one quietly passes the frontiers, and their quarrels do not begin to be serious till they are arrived at the place of their destination.

As long as a Lesghae suffers no failure of promises, he is very serviceable; for it is of no consequence to him against whom he fights. It has happened that brothers have fought against brothers, and that a neighbour has killed his best friend, after they had chosen their different chiefs, or entered the service of this or that prince, with the hope of greater gain. If they per

ceive any want of provisions; if they are prevented plundering, or no hopes induce them to it; they go over to the opposite party, and fight against him who demanded their assistance. They readily undertake scouring parties, like bush-fighting, and avoid every thing tiresome and regular. They very artfully make sure of the enemy, and fall on him unexpectedly. But if it happens, that both have approached near to each other, and are still undetermined to attack, the boldest combatants challange their opponents to a duel by opprobrious epithets; others soon do the same, and at last the whole army; and the onset becomes general by noise and hooting. When the campaign is over, the Lesghaes must immediately receive their pay as well as for the slain, that the relations of the dead may not suffer in the inheritance. In robbing and plundering they possess an incredible dexterity; and if the fugitive inhabitants have concealed their goods ever so secretly, a Lesghae is sure to find them. They are equally clever in immediately carrying off their booty, or hiding it. If, for example, they have stolen a flock of sheep, and must drive them away directly; they cut some in two, fasten them by a long string to the saddle, thus drag them behind, and ride on a good pace; and it is incredible how the whole flock follows, and by that means becomes a prey.

The Lesghaes are armed with a gun, pistols, dagger, and sabre, dressed quite light in the Tartarian stile, and carry, without inconvience, their provisions in a wallet made of goatskin, called Ghuziri.

When they have been successful in plundering and have kidnapped children, besides men, they take the former, after much coaxing, on their backs, and carry them over the mountains and valleys. Should a prisoner escape, and be retaken, a Lesghae never meets him with severity, much

less would he beat him, (if he is not refractory,) but he ingeniously tells him, "It is no fault of thine that thou seekest thy freedom, for I should not do it a hair's breadth the less, were I in thy stead; the error is mine own, that I had not secured thee better; but now, (while he smiles in his face, and ties his hands behind him,) thou wilt certainly not escape from me again." They do not murder the men whom they have stolen, not even when they are pursued, and cannot carry off their prey; but if they have secured their booty, they take care to inform the friends and relations of the prisoners, that they may treat for their

ransom.

The Mahommedan Lesghae does not even spare his own brethren, when they fall into his hands. Now, if any one is not rich enough to ransom himself, and the Lesghae is obliged to sell him as a slave, (but that is contrary to their religion, as the prisoner was not taken in war, but stolen, and might therefore excite too much attention,) he obliges him, by threatenings, to call himself a Christian, gives him a Christian name, and then sells him.

When the Lesghae, as victor, takes prisoners in war, any one can ransom himself for a tumann, (ten roubles,) but if one Lesghae falls into the hands of another, he must according to an old treaty pay two tumanns. Prisoners of respectability are liberated for a greater sum optionally, and even immediately, if they can give security for the payment. Yet the life of every prisoner of war depends entirely upon the mercy of the conqueror. But should a Lesghae carry them to his house, they immediately enjoy the rights of slavery, which according to the Ismail Koran, are, that they cannot be sold, alienated, given away, nor killed beyond the frontiers of Caucasus. If the prisoner is incapable of ransoming himself, he must