KARATSCI IAI, or KARATSCIIOLI, a tribe of Tartars dwelling at the foot of Elbrus, the most lofty mountain of the great ridges of Caucasus. The name Karatschai, is said to signify the Black Rivulet, and by some other tribes, the people of this tribe are called Black Circassians. Their abodes are on the rivers Chursuk, Kuban, and Teber deh, towards the northern base of the mountains bounded by the Abascians on the west; and from the same people they arc divided by various mountains on the north and east. Lamberti conjectures, that the appellation, Black Circassians, has been given them from the dark and cloudy nature of their country.
The personal appearance of the Karatschai is in general handsome ; they are well shaped, their features are re markably delicate, they have large black eyes, and a fair complexion. They bear a strong resemblance to the Geor gians, and none are ever seen with the broad flat face, and oblique eyes, which denote the blood of the Mongols. The men wear woollen garments like the Circassians, resem bling a close surtout : the women, on going abroad, dress in cloth and furs ; but, in the warmest weather, have only a light under garment of white cotton. When of more ad vanced age, a white handkerchief is worn over the head, but the younger females have a cap of silver lawn, and plait their hair, which is tied with a white ribband, and falls down their backs after the Circassian fashion.
The houses of the Karatschai are built of fir, with very small windows ; they have no fire places, and are kept ex tremely clean. They sleep on cat pets and pillows, test ing on wooden bedsteads, little elevated from the ground. The principal utensils consist of a variety of copper ket tles, which are brought by the coast of the Black Sea from Natolia.
As the territory inhabited by this tribe is fertile, abun dance of wheat, barley, millet, and tobacco is obtained by cultivation ; and plenty of game is caught in the woods. The Karatschai keep many sheep, asses, mules, and horses, the last of small size, but strong and spirited, and admira bly adapted for travelling among the mountains. On grow ing old and unserviceable, the tail and mane are cut off, and they are turned out to feed in the woods, where they become very fat ; and being killed, the flesh is dried for winter provisions. The Karatschai make a kind of beer resembling English porter, another beverage called bosa, and they also distil a little brandy from wheat and barley ; but the former is chiefly used, strong liquors being forbid den by their religious precepts. Formerly they were very fond of pork, now it is held in abhorrence, and the person touching a hog is deemed impure. They are indebted for this inconvenience to the labours of a Turkish missionary, who converted them to the Mahometan religion about the year 1782. The Kai atschai were formerly pagans ; they arc enure strangers to Coristianny, and being of the Sunnite faith, entertain an inveterate antipathy against other sects. They hold the principles of the Koran in strict observance, deeming it a great crime to omit the fasts and prayers pre scribed by it. They are, however, exceedingly superstitious,
believing in malevolent demons which haunt the mountains ; and of which they relate numberless stories. Divination is also in vogue, especially to anticipate the success of the chase. Forty-one pebbles, pease, or grains of corn, are disposed in a certain arrangement, and, from particular rules, conclusions are deduced. Should the omen prove propitious, they hasten to fulfil their object ; should it be adverse, nothing can induce them to attempt it.
On the decease of an individual, the women howl, beat their breasts, and tear their hair. The men attend the funerals, lash themselves on the forehead, and mangle the lobes of their ears with their knives. But, on returning from the funerals, their grief is drowned in copious liba tions of beer.
Parents generally seek out a suitable match for their son ; as it is not customary for him to communicate his de sign of marrying to them, lest they should disapprove of his choice, and prevent the match.' When they have de cided, the parties are betrothed, but the marriage is defer red six months, or a year ; nor during all that time are they permitted to see each other. Neither can the youth enter into conversation with the parents of the female until the union has been actually completed ; and it is even judged indecorous that he should sit in their presence. Previous to marriage, the parents of the bride receive a kalim, or present, which is called the price of blood : and if the bridegroom be wealthy, he sends her a complete dress, w hich she puts on when conducted to him in the evening by a train of youths. On the wedding-clay, an entertain ment is given by each at their respective dwellings, but only to those of their own sex, excluding the other ; and festivities ensue for three days, accompanied by particu lar dances, performed by the youthful of both sexes. In general, the° Karatschai have only one wife ; some among them, however, have two or three, with whom they live in perft ct felicity ; and, contrary to the practice of other mountaineers, treat them with kindness and affection. The common people live with their wives, who are permitted to see and converse with strangers. Among the higher ranks, each wife has a separate habitation ; no one may approach her, except her husband, whose visits are never in the day-time, but only at night. Should the wife of a person of high rank have no offspring, his male illegiti mate offspring by slaves succeed him in all his prerogatives and possessions, equally, as if they had been of lawful With. Cases of seduction or adultery become a matter of public interest. The seducer is conducted to the mosque, and there tried by the elders of the tribe, who banish him from their territories. The father turns his dishonotned daughter, and the husband his adulterous wife, out of the house, nor is either ever forgiven ; and sometimes the affair terminates in the death of the offender. The dis graced family then quit the country, to conceal their shame.