Circassia

Circassia, a territory bordering on the Western Caucasus, whose inhabitants, the Circassians, have in a great measure, upon the acquisition of their territory by Russia, migrated to Turkish territory in Asia Minor, or the mountains of Bulgaria. The race has long been noticed for the sturdy spirit of independence with which they have resisted Russian aggression, and for the beauty of their women, who are the chief ornaments of the Turkish harems. The nobles are generally Mussulmans, but the mass of the people profess a kind of rudimentary Christianity.