Baron August von Haxthausen

(author of 'Transcaucasia,' The Russian Empire, etc.),

The Tribes of the Caucasus, with an account of Schamyl and the Murids,

trans. J.E. Taylor (London: Chapman and Hall [193 Piccadilly], 1855).

The Caucasus, the highest mountain range in the civilized world in ancient times, presents features of incalculable importance and interest, both internally and with relation to the history of mankind at large. More than ever perhaps at the present moment, when in the East the armed might of Russia and of the Western Allied Powers are engaged in a war of such momentous importance and extent, it is not improbable that these countries, of which we propose to treat in the following pages, may form a central point in the history of the world, on which may hang the destinies of the future, (2) pregnant with events and changes that may baffle all anticipation and conjuncture.
In ancient times the tribes of western Asia and Europe, dwelling at the foot of these mountains, looked up with wondering gaze to those snowy summits, never trodden by the foot of man, which, in their eyes, formed the limit of civilization, and beyond which dwelt those hordes of barbarians, without name or history, the Scythians and Hyperboreans.
With these mountains were naturally associated the oldest popular legends and myths. When the race of the Dives and Jinn's, which inhabited the world before the creation of man, alienated themselves from the Deity, they were banished to the Caucasus, where it is supposed they still dwell in their icy palaces, under their king, the Padishah of the Jinns, who holds his court in the Elbrouz, 'the resplendent, holy, blest mountain.'On the other hand, the Grecian mythology informs us, that when Prometheus stole the fire of heaven for man, Zeus, as a punishment, chained him to the rocks of the Caucasus.
Another legend, which still survives, relates that, when the Deluge abated, the Caucasus first (3) appeared above the waters: here the ark first landed, on the highest summit of the Elbrouz, making a cleft in it which is still visible; but the story goes on to say, that the Ark again floated further, and finally landed on Ararat.There is however another legend of high importance, especially at the present time, as its belief exerts a mysterious and magical influence on the coming crisis of the world's history. We have said that the Caucasus was regarded as the limits of the ancient civilized world. The barbarous hordes of the north had, even within the times of history, repeatedly forced a way through this mountain barrier, and swept over the civilized countries with the sword of conquest. Against these irruptions the monarchs in early times erected an immense wall, with towers and two strong gates,--a defence similar to the great wall of China.
This well-known fact in history caused Mohammed to deliver a prophecy, which in the present moment contributes mainly to stir up all the Mohammedan races against the dwellers beyond and north of the Caucasus, and to inflame them with the most ardent fanaticism. Mohammed says in the Koran, 'Beyond the Caucasus dwell (4) Gog and Magog: one day, when the full time is come, they will pass the mountains, and will slay the Faithful, and destroy the blest realm of the Believers.' [Footnote: The Bible makes mention of Magog in several places: Genesis x.2 . . . I Chron. i. 5 . . . Ezekiel (38 and 39) . . . Revelations (xx. 7-9)… Mohammed seems to have taken his prophecy from Ezekiel and the Revelations; but instead of foretelling, in accordance with the Bible, the final overthrow of Magog, he prophesied the destruction of the empire of the Faithful]
Before considering specially the political and religious position of these countries at the present day, we shall first take a general survey of them and their inhabitants. To the north of the Caucasus, between the (5) Black Sea, or its continuation in the Sea of Azof, and the Caspian, and north of both, extends an immense barren Steppe, the greater part of which, between the Sea of Azof and the Caspian, is of a salt character. On digging but a few feet into the earth, salt water rises. Possibly we may trace on the map, from this circumstance, the junction of the two Seas in one, in prehistoric times, perhaps before the Deluge. These plains admit only of cultivation along the banks of the rivers, the rest being abandoned to the roving nomads and their herds.
This Steppe forms only a portion of the vast plains which extend in an uninterrupted line from the Carpathian and Silesian mountains-we may even say from Normandy-to the China Sea, and may perhaps have been an immense ocean before the Deluge, separating that portion of the earth inhabited by the race of Adam from the northern zone. Through all times of history these plains have been the heritage and country of nomadic peoples. From the very origin of the human race, in the story of Cain and Abel, we observe the two-fold (6) leading directions of man's life-agricultural, and pastoral occupation; and, in a corresponding manner the formation of the earth itself presents, in its varied local features, the inducements which in general determine these directions. High mountains, and wide barren plains, are the natural basis of pastoral life, whilst the fertile central lands invite and foster the pursuits of agriculture. [ more >>>]

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Baron Haxthausen - A Visit to the Dukhobortsy, 1843 (!!!)