KABARDIN-BALKAR, autonomous area, created in 1924, a region linked administratively to the North Caucasian area of the Russian S.F.S.R. It occupies about 9,00o sq.km., and lies between the territory of the Karachaevs on the west and that of the Northern Osetins and Ingushets on the east. To the south is the Svanetian district of Georgia and to the north, the Terek province of the North Caucasian area. Kabardia is mainly the plain and foothill region, while Balkaria is entirely mountainous and includes the highest portion of the Caucasus, with a series of peaks standing on a subsidiary range north of the main range, including Elburz, 18,471 ft., Janga (Dzhanga) -tau, 16,66o ft., Shkara-tau, 17,04o ft., Dykh-tau, 17,050 ft. and Koshtan-tau 16,875 ft. The Balkars live in the upper valleys of the glacier-fed streams and little is known accurately of the climate of the region; every valley varies according to its slope, aspect and height. The Balkars are a branch of the same race as the Karachaevs, and speak a Turkish dialect. They call themselves the hill people and probably settled here some five hundred years ago to escape op pression. Under the influence of the Kabardians they became Mohammedans of the Sunni sect in the 18th century, but a good deal of primitive nature-worship survives amongst them. Their tiny auls or mountain villages are perched in almost inaccessible valleys and their stone huts are usually flat roofed, with a hole for the outlet of smoke. In their severe climate agriculture is impos sible and they are mainly herders of cattle and sheep : in pre-war times they also hunted the bear and aurochs. Attempts are being made to improve the breed of sheep, on which many villages rely entirely for food and clothing. Numerically the Balkars form about 16% of the population of the area. The Kabardians are a north eastern branch of the Adighei (Cherkess; Circassians). They form 6o% of the population and are an able people who formerly held an influential position among the neighbouring tribes, from many of whom they exacted tribute, including the Osetins, the Ingushets, the Abkhasians and the mountain Tatars.
The territory which they now occupy has a mild climate suitable for agriculture except in the north east, on the right bank of the Terek river, where irrigation is necessary. The rest of Kabardia-Balkaria is drained by abundant streams, flowing in a north easterly direction, and including the Malka, Baksan, Chegen, Nalchik and Cherek, all linking with the left bank of the Terek. The main crop is maize, sown in a primitive way; millet, sun flower seed ; potatoes, vegetables, melons, cucumbers and vines are also cultivated to a small extent. The foothills are everywhere rich in grass, and herding is as important as cultivation. Kabardian
horses are famous and draught cattle, sheep and goats are In 1926 the effects of the 1914-22 War and famine were still marked; the number of horses being 58.8% of the pre-war level, cattle 86.4% and sheep and goats 66.5%. The Kabardians breed cattle for meat and for working purposes, the Balkars for dairy purposes. Balkaria still depends on nomad pasturage, but Ka bardia is in a transition stage to intensive cattle rearing, with the use of winter foods; a few veterinary training centres exist.
Kabardia is well forested with beech, maple and oak, though little timber is exported. Poultry and beekeeping are common both among Kabardians and Balkars, but for local needs only. Silk worm-breeding of a primitive kind is common among the Kabard ians, but has no economic importance ; neither wine nor tobacco is manufactured. The only industrial undertakings are two timber mills, a steam flour mill, and the Nalchik electric station and print ing works. Kustar industries are widespread and include the making of homespun, felt and fur cloaks, saddlery, and wooden wares. The administrative centre is Nalchik. Of the popu lation (1926) of 203,776, Kabardians and Balkars numbered 76.3%; the remaining people being Russians, Ukrainians, Osetins, Germans and Jews. Education is spreading among the Kabardians of the plains. In 1926-27 there were 156 primary and 4 secondary schools; a teachers' training college was established at Nalchik in 1926. A short grammar of the Kabardian language, and a Russian Kabardian dictionary by Lopatinsky were published in 1891. In 1864 fragments of the poem "Sosyruko," some Persian tales, and the tenets of the Mohammedan religion were printed in Kabard ian by Kazi Atazhukin and Shardanov. Recently Roman script has been adopted instead of the Turkish, and Kabardian is now the medium of instruction in schools; text books in that language are in use. In the hill regions and among the Balkars, the percentage of illiterates is probably over 90% and about 75% of the children are receiving no education. There is one children's and one general hospital, and the net work of medical services is extremely poor. The budget is slender, and plans to improve it involve capital ex penditure on an irrigation canal between the Terek and the Sun zha, the organization of health resorts, the building of an electric power station on the Malka or the Baksan river to provide power for the timber and flour mills, and the construction of roads and bridges. Communications are poor; there is no first class road and the only railway is in the east, a part of the branch from the Trans-Caucasian to Vladikavkaz. A branch from Kotlyarevsk on this line to Nalchik was under construction in 1928.