Life of Schamyl | Page 7

upon his person.
In this preparatory training and the practice of these athletic sports the
boy Schamyl must have passed the first dozen years of his life, living in
the house of his atalik, and very rarely visiting that of his father. Nor
even when he did so was it to sit, much less to eat in the paternal
presence, but only with his back reverently turned and his head stuck in
a corner.
But at the end of this period of discipline, having become more than a
tyro, if not already an expert in all manly exercises and warlike arts, the
lad must have been restored to his parents by his foster-father. The
event is always celebrated by a feast at which all the relatives of the
two families are invited, and from which the atalik returns loaded with
presents, and with thanks. It is indeed a proud day for the youngster,
because it is his putting on of the toga. Thenceforward, if not fully a
man, he is at least a mad-cap or deli-kan.

VII.
HIS HORSEMANSHIP.
Schamyl, now become a deli-kan, is said to have been so ambitious of
the palm in all youthful games that whenever defeated he would brood
for days together over his disgrace in silent chagrin. From his
childhood he knew not how to brook a superior.
He therefore zealously continued his exercises, particularly those in
horsemanship. Like that of all Circassian youth it was his ambition not
only to sit his horse a perfect centaur, to dash at full speed up steeps
and down precipices, to leap the chasm and to swim the torrent; but
also on the gallop to discharge his weapons, in an instant unslinging his
gun from behind his back, and as quickly returning it to its place; to
hang suspended from the side of the horse so as to avoid the aim of an

enemy; to spring to the ground for the purpose of picking up something
and again vault into the saddle without halting; and to take aim with
such precision as to hit the smallest and most inconveniently placed
mark while going at full tilt.
The subduing of a half-wild horse in the herd which is allowed during a
portion of the year to roam the woods and hills, is also a feat frequently
practised by the Circassian cavalier, either for the sake of securing the
animal, or simply as an exercise in horsemanship. A rider or two armed
with lassos plunge into the midst of the herd, and selecting one of the
wildest of the stallions--for mares are not used under the saddle--secure
him by throwing over his head the noose. Then the cavalier who is to
make trial of his skill springs upon the back of the animal, which with
dilated eyes and smoking nostrils exhibits the greatest consternation.
And now commences the contest between horse and rider. Furious as
well as frightened the brute speeds like an arrow over the hills or down
the valleys. He turns and doubles, halts suddenly, rolls on the ground,
crawls on his belly, dashes into the midst of the herd, and tries in all
possible ways to get rid of the burden he has no fancy for. But the
intrepid rider, self possessed, and constantly on the alert, sits upon his
back as if a part of the animal, waving his hand in triumph after every
struggle terminated in his favor; and there he continues to sit and hold
the mastery until the strong steed, finally exhausted by his efforts,
covered with foam, out of breath, and cowed in spirit, acknowledges
the superiority of his antagonist.
When tamed, however, the Circassian horse is both perfectly gentle and
attached to his master. The pet brought up in the yard is as playful as a
kitten. The children gambol with him. His master fondles him, patting
his neck and kissing his head. On festal days and occasions of
ceremony he is decked out with red-cloth trappings; his neck is
wreathed with many-colored glass beads; ribands are tied in his mane;
and bunches of wild flowers nod from his foretop. The stranger may
not praise the Circassian's wife or child for fear of shedding over them
the malign influence of the evil eye, or for other reasons less fanciful;
but to the praises of his steed the warrior's ear is ever open. The faithful
animal is his companion on all his excursions; he drinks with him the

waters which flow through the plains of the enemy; he looks down as
well as himself from the rock on the passing column and the squares of
infantry; he shares with him the dangers of the bayonet and the bullet;
and, neighing, participates too in the hurrah of the onset and the shouts
of