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Circassians, Religion of the

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This interesting people inhabit the mountain valleys in the northern declivities of the Caucasus. Their faith is a mixture of Mohammedanism, Paganism, and Christianity. The first of these is the prevailing belief, and is found mingled with remnants of the others. An attempt was early made to introduce Christianity, but without success, further than the erection of a few wooden crosses here and there. When passing these the natives stop and make an obeisance. They also observe a feast in the month of October, in which they present certain cakes and utter their invocations. This feast, they allege, was anciently instituted in honor of the mother of Jesus. They still observe pagan festivals, and offer sacrifices to Seoseres for a plentiful harvest, to Tschible (the god of thunder, war, and justice) for victories gained, to Thleps (the god of fire), to Isosserisch (the god of wind and water), to Mesitcha, Sekutcha, Pekoasch, Achin, and others. See Longworth, A Year among the. Circassians; Bell, Journal of a Residence in Circassia.