The New Student's Reference Work/Circassians

Circas′sians, the name sometimes given to all the formerly independent peoples of the Caucasus, more strictly to the tribes living in the northwest wing. The Circassians are a handsome race, their girls being the most beautiful in the Turkish harems. They also are strong, brave and temperate. For years they struggled fiercely agiainst Russia, to keep their independence, and in 1858-65, rather than submit, nearly the whole nation of 15 tribes, about half a million in number, left their country for the Turkish part of Asia Minor or the mountains of Bulgaria. See Caucasus.