Life of Schamyl | Page 6

accordance with a similar custom, also, was the
young Achilles intrusted by Peleus to the care of Chiron, the centaur.
For among the Circassians, as among the early Greeks, the principal
object of education is to form the accomplished warrior.
History has been fortunate enough, however, to get possession of the
name of Schamyl's instructor, who is called Dschelal Eddin, and who,
beginning the education of the future prophet by teaching him the
Arabic language, completed it by initiating him into the doctrines of the
Sufis. He still lives, a venerable man, and is said to be the only person
to whom his pupil in after-life ever granted his entire confidence, and at
whose feet he has been known ever to sit for counsel.
The learning of letters, however, was not the boy's first lesson in that
course of training which prepared him to become a leader of the tribes;
for as in the history of the race, so in the education of the warrior in
these mountains, the practice of horsemanship comes before the study
of books.

VI.
HIS EARLY EDUCATION.
In the due course of Circassian education Schamyl could not have been
four years old when he exchanged the amusement of building houses of
mud and pebble-stones for that of backing horses. A couple of years
later his atalik might even have presented him with a steed for the
practice of those arts of horsemanship wherein the Circassians excel the
most expert riders in the world. The Koissu must also have submitted
to the triumph of his arms when their bone was still in the gristle, and
during the warm season of the year have suffered, both at morning and
evening, its torrent to be breasted by the daring young swimmer. To
wrestle, the boy, without doubt, began almost as soon as he was able to
stand alone; and to dance was learned without a master, whether
according to the figures practised in the ring of pleasure, or the more
active steps taken in the pantomimic fight. Shooting with the bow, the

gun, and the pistol, is an exercise for Circassian boys at an age when
those of countries more civilized are spelling, syllable by syllable, the
lessons of the primer and the catechism. The art of thieving adroitly is
also reckoned an accomplishment by these mountaineers, as formerly
by the Spartans, when the despoiled is an enemy, or at least a member
of another tribe. And as in their council-rings there is as often an
opportunity for the display of eloquence as ever there was before the
walls of ancient Troy, so the youth are taught both by observation and
by direct lessons the art of persuasion.
In early childhood Schamyl is said to have enjoyed a somewhat less
rugged health than his mates; and had the development of his mind
been forced by the training to which the children of civilization are
generally subjected, being compelled to sit by the hour upon a bench
and breathe the unwholesome air of an over-heated school-room, very
likely after having passed, during a brief season, for a youthful prodigy
in the eyes of an admiring, but inconsiderate circle of friends, he would
have closed his earthly career and been lamented as a genius for this
world too brilliant and too good. But in this comparative state of
barbarism, the boy's mind having been allowed more slowly and
naturally to unfold itself; and his body meanwhile being strengthened
by a life in the open air of the mountains, and by such athletic sports as
well supplied the place of the games of the ancient Greeks and Romans,
this fine spirit was saved from premature decay, to the honor of his
country, and the illustration of humanity.
Nor could it have been long before these arts, all more or less having
reference to the formation of the skilful warrior, were put to the test of
practice in actual service. There are reliable accounts of Circassian
boys who at the age of ten years have gone to the wars, as unable to eat
or sleep on the approach of the enemy as in occidental countries are the
rustic lads on the eve of a muster of the county militia, at which in
addition to the show of red-coats and cocked hats there will be cakes,
pop-beer, tumbling, and monkeys. Many a young mountaineer before
he has got a beard has "bagged his five Russians." At first, indeed, the
boy is allowed only, it may be, to pass the night with the sentinels on
the hills, or to watch the horses of the sleeping warriors, and afterwards

sees his first battlefield, going out on an expedition in the quality of
page of some chieftain, taking charge of his steed when he alights, and
attending