Zaniko Sefer’s father Mehmet Bey  was a man of great vision. Sefer too  had been infused with the same quality in his upbringing.  He was familiar with the leading members of Anapa nobility as well as with the Ottoman Paşas, and had been present at their gatherings on numerous occasions. 

            In his youth he was given private education.  He was very good at reading and writing in Turkish language. 
            He had learnt much out of the environment he had been living in.  He subscribed to the idea of attainment of statehood by Caucasia.  He was conscious of the factors essential for the survival of a nation. 

            Zaniko Mehmet Bey had been a long-standing popular leader.  He had contemplated taking certain measures that would help the Caucasian peoples to avert the fate that had befallen on the Crimeans.  To the same end he had visited Istanbul, and had reported the alarming situation, which had come about in the aftermath of the fall of Crimea,  to the Sultan and the Ottoman Statesmen.  It was due to his endeavors in Istanbul that Ferah Ali Paşa was dispatched as the Guardian of the Fort Soğucak,  and the fort was reconstructed. 

            The initiatives of Zaniko Mehmet Bey had earned much for the Adiğes. Under the enlightened leadership of Ferah Ali Paşa Islam spread all over   Caucasia.  The people became conscious of the need to be forged together as a community, as a nation.  Most important of all, further expansion of Russia was checked through recognition of the river Kuban was as the borderline.  A five decades long span of respite had been gained as a result.

            Each Ottoman monarch in turn had declared Caucacia his territory.   Bu non of them had ever considered to introduce an administrative system there.  They had considered Cavcasia as a significant source of revenue through slave trade.  It was, however, during the tenure of Ferah Ali Paşa when that notion was eliminated, and the foundations of Ottoman-Caucasian solidarity were earnestly laid down.
            The Russians had begun colonizing the territories to the north of the rivers Kuban and Terek years ago.  Lately they had seized the Black Sea coasts of Caucasia.  They swiftly repaired the forts of Anapa and Poti, which had been ruined in the war, and set up garrison command there. 

            The Turks had been forced out of the Caucasian coasts.  From now on the Adiğes and other peoples in the area had to take care of themselves.   Zaniko was conscious of the fact, and of the impelling need for some kind of action to meet the situation.

            His farm was located fifteen to twenty kilometers inland.  The lights of the Russian garrison based in Anapa was visible from Zaniko’s farm. So it was impossible to have a restful sleep. 

            He was not alone in being distressed over the deportation of the population of Anapa.  All the inhabitants of the western regions had been overwhelmed with distress over the tragedy.  The moral depression caused by the defeat had been so profound that the inhabitants of Kabardey, Çeçenistan and Ossetya, territories already under occupation, had also been greatly influenced. Gazi Molla, Hamzat Bey and  Şamil, the leaders of resistance in Daghistan, who had been trying to  rebuild their forces, were horrified at the fate of the resistance in the coast. 

            The leaders in the west, not knowing what was to be done, had withdrawn to their homes and farms.  Frustrated as they had been, they hoped for a miracle  to take place.

            Some of them, particularly  Geriyiko Şemız, Şuruko Duğuj and Haci Huzbek,  were not only sorrowful, but also were furious.  Şemız and Doğuj were at the coast while Huzbek was in the Abin Valley somewhat in the interior. With small groups of volunteers attached to them they individually organized continued raids at the Russian positions.  So to say, they meant to avenge the Anapa defeat.

            According to Zaniko Sefer Bey such uncoordinated individual attacks were of little consequence.  This way it was impossible to contain so strong a power like Russia, whose  armies were equipped with cannons and rifles.  An enemy had to be countered with the resources and methods at par with that of the enemy. 

            There were others too in the coast who shared Sefer Bey’s outlook. Bastiko Pşımef was a typical example; and Zaniko had been sure of it; for he had heard him talking at  meetings on a number of occasions. 

            Zaniko Sefer decided to hold two meetings; one confidential with restricted participation, and the other an enlarged open meeting. 

            He contemplated to hold the first meeting, at his own farm-house with participation of the prominent leaders of the coast.  It was to serve as preparatory to the second meeting he wished to convene.  He considered the Holy Woods on the bank of the Adgum River as the venue, where he would invite representatives of all the Adiğe clans. 

            The Russians had seized Anapa during the war of 1808-1812.  The fort, however, had been  restored to Ottoman sovereignty at the Peace Treaty concluded in Bucharest. 

            The fall of Fort Anapa to the Russians then had caused a simialar psychological depression as sustained recently.  It may be recalled that in the aftermath of the earlier fall of the fort Kalabatuko Şupagua had proposed convocation of a National Assembly, and had enunciated the idea of a nation-state.  He had submitted his ideas for the perusal of the National Assembly subsequently convened.  He had also introduced to the Assembly a proposed Adiğe National Flag designed by himself. 

            The proposed flag consisted of three black arrows and twelve white stars on green background.  The Green background represented Islam, the arrows signified the Adiğe Forces, and the stares denoted the Adiğe tribes.¹

            The flag had been designed to represent only the communities in north-western Caucasia; for it was intended to generate a required level of dynamism in a short time in a given area.. 

            The project presented by Kalabatuko Şupagua was turned down by Zanikos, probably due to the Kalabatuko-Zaniko rivalry that had been going on for five to six decades then. 

            Moreover, the Zanikos contended that without the support of the Ottoman State no political program could be successfully implemented.  Any movement seeking independence, such as the one under consideration then,  was bound to disturb the Turks as much as the Russians.  It was too early to launch  a controversial program as such. 

            The Kalabatuko family, however contended otherwise:  The Turkish presence in Caucasia was transitional. Sooner or later they were to quit, leaving   the Adiğes to deal with the Russians by themselves. Something had to be done before it was too late.  The concept of a National Assembly and declaration of a nation state was the only remedy;  so the Kalabatukos advocated. 

            Sefer Bey now out to advocat the outlook which his own family had turned down about twenty years ago.  He had belatedly realized the mistaken approach of his clan. In his youth he too had apposed the scheme. Now He regretted it very much.

            Hatuk, son of Kalabatuko Şupagua, was the first person to whom he sent out invitation to attend the meeting he proposed to convene at his farm-house.  Hatuk was an outstanding leader of recent times in the area.  He was a good speaker with a sound judgment.  At right moments he could be a daring fighter. 

            Beside Kalabatuko Hatuk, Sefer Bey invited the following personalities to the meeting: Kadı Hacı Ismail, Indaryiko Mehmet, Geriyikos Şemız and Ali, Bastiko Pşımef, Havuduko Mansur, Şuruyiko Duğuj, Aslan Geri, Batmazyiko Ali, Islam Geri, Hacı Huzbek, Korosyiko Amirz, Daziyiko Şupas and Kass Demir.  In addition there were about ten young men among the invitees. 

            He had selected the youger invitees from among his own people, in the hope that they could be useful in the organizational or managerial work during the meeting.
 

                                                              O0O
 

            Zaniko Sefer Bey’s farm-house was located in the Vestagoy Valley.  The lowland was divided into parcels by irrigation canals.  Some of the parcels were bordered by fruit trees in a neat linear order. 

            The terrain behind the farm smoothly graded in the form of natural terraces, covered with orchards of walnut, acacia, and linden trees. There was a congested line of alder trees all along the stream.  On the natural terrace further up, there sparsely stood the Bey’s farm-house and other utility buildings attached to the farm.  The buildings were out of sight at some distance due to the congested trees around them. 

            It was late in September.  The corn was ready for harvesting. The tree-leaves had begun taking on a yellowish orange color.  The pşılı dependents of the Zanikos were busy in harvesting whichever crop that was ready to be attended to.  The farm was briskly active all over. 

            The scheduled date for the first confidential meeting Sefer Bey had called was only a couple days away.  The invitees began arriving in ones and twos, either directly to the Zanikos farm or to other farms in the neighborhood, to be hosted by friends. 

            Bastiko Pşımef set out for the Zanokos farm in the company of  Geriyikos Şemız and Ali.  Both Pşımef and Şemız had their own sons as the groom.  Geriyiko Ali was without a groom. 

            Şemız’s son Şeretluk was elder to Pşımef’s son Ismail.  The two put up very well.  As grooms, the two boys followed their fathers from a safe distance, far enough so as not to hear their conversation.  This was a dictate of the traditions.

            Two guest-houses had been readied for accommodation of the leaders. 

            On the scheduled day Sefer Bey detailed watchmen to timely inform him of invitees approaching the farms-house; so that he could go out and personally receive them as they came in.  It took the whole day for all the invitees to arrive at the farm. 

            Şurukyiko Duğuj arrived in the early hours of the morning.  He amused Sefer Bey  by his humorous chatting and laughter,  and held him back from brooding.  The last to come was Zaziyiko Mehmet from Cuga, the farthest location in relation to the Zanikos’ farm.  He arrived at sun-set. 

            He served meals to the guests under a canopy specially built for the occasion. The season was suitable.  It was an Autumn evening reminiscent of the Summer.

            The canopy, covered by grapevine, was illuminated with seaman’s lanterns.  On all sides there were wooden sofas decorated with colorful felt rugs and carpets.  The set of wooden tripods placed in the middle had on them plates full of eatables. 

            Şurukyiko Duğuj was the most talkative and high-spirited person in the gathering.  He had something or the other to say to everybody; but yet he was not tired. 

            Doğuj amusedly chuckle as the youth serving the guests brought two roasted whole lambs; rubbed his palms, and exclaimed,

            -  Zaniko! By Go you enlivened us!  May God bless you! 

            In fact Hacı Huzbek was sharper than Duğuj in conversation and in cutting joke.  He  however, did not talk much while taking meals.  He would help others to talk, and helped himself with the food. 

            Hacı was sitting next to Duğuj.  “Duğuj! You go on with your talk”, he advised him, and grabbed a leg of the roast lamb.  A roar of laughter raised under the canopy. 

            Geriyiko Şemız was no less witty than to the two.  But he was not in good mood as the others.  Being not aware as to why he was invited, he was quiescent.  He gazed at Zaniko and others, who shared the same table with him. He was trying  to find a clue. 

            During the dinner they talked about the weather and other generalities.  Sefer Bey did not feel it was fit to make a statement as to the purpose of the gathering.   Others, though sure of having been invited not only eat together, did not broach the subject.  In compliance with Adiğe traditions no one put a question to the host. 

            The leaders mostly were exhausted for they had ridden over a long distance. Besides, they had had a heavy dinner.  The humorous chatting of Duğuj and Hacı proved of little help for them to resist drowsiness.  So they retired to bed early.

            Without exception all the guests went to sleep soon after they get into the bed.  Only Şemız for a while thought about Zaniko Sefer.  He was a bit bitter for he was intrigued  as to the yet undisclosed purpose of the meeting.  He repeatedly grumbled, “What is the sense in letting everyone in such an uncomfortable suspense? ” 

            The following morning while the young grooms led the horses out in to the meadow, the elders gathered under the canopy in the garden. 

            Kadı Hacı Mehmet, Kadı Hacı Ismail and Indaryiko Mehmet were seated as the guest of honor.  All the three belonged to the Çipako-Indar Family Group.  They were the senior most elders of the community.  The other guests also took their seat in order of their age and social status.  Sefer Bey, the host, took his seat by the entrance of the canopy. 

            The service boys having cleared the area, Zaniko Sefer Bey requested Haci Mehmet Efendi’s permission to address the meeting.  Mehmet Efendi having politely nodded his head, Sefer Bey began his address:

            -  May God bless you all for having complied with my invitation! 

            He briefly paused.  He looked sad. He went on.

            -  As you are aware Anapa fell last year.  No Ottoman fort is left on the coasts of Caucasia. You remember what the Czar’s generals had told us. They had told us, “ We are at war not with you but with the Turks. Once they quit, you will be independent!”   They had told the same things to the Tatars earlier.  You have seen how the Russians supplanted the Turks in Crimea.

            Zaniko again paused briefly.

            -  According to available information representatives of the two states have concluded a treaty in Edirne.  The whole of Caucasia has been ceded to Russia. 

            Geriyiko was sitting cross-legged on the sofa.  He raised on his knees so as to get up, and roared, showing his fist.

            -  Yes! Yes! They say so!  Whose  property they give to whom? 

            There began grumbling and talking in groups of two and three persons.  Şurukyiko Duğuj’s voice overshadowed that of all the others.  “That means they have given up our territories to the Russians without consulting us.  Good luck to the buyer and the seller!  Let them come and take possession of it if they can!”,  Duğuj repeatedly shouted. 

            Sefer Bey waited for the grumbling to stop.  He gazed at the  audience from one end to the other. 

            Hacı Mehmet Efendi intervened.  “Let us see what else Zaniko has to tell,” he said.  Silence was immediately restored, and the host went on with his speech. 

            -  Whatever be our reaction, that is how the  two big powers have agreed.  The Sultan and the Czar both have approved the agreement. 

            Şemız and Duğuj vociferously objected once again. 

            -  The decisions taken by them are not binding on us! We are an independent nation!

            Zaniko, in remorsefully gazed at Şemız, the most fiery among his guests.  He pointed at him with the index finger of his right hand, and went on:

            -  You say  so.   But they don’t!  You have to have it accepted by them and by the rest of the world.  There is no other way to prove our being independent!

            Şemız and Doğuj were extremely daring  and aggressive individuals; but not at all good at politics.  So was Hacı Huzbek; with the only difference that he did not care much about serious matters.  He was not interested in arguments; what mattered to him was the outcome.  He was patient to see the outcome. 

            Duğuj and Şemız stopped objecting, and adopted a disgruntled  posture of reprimanded children.  They seemed no more interested in what was going on the meeting. 

            Sefer Bey went on in a grave and uneven voice,

            -  So long as you are a community divided into tribes, clans and families in dispute with one another, no one would to take you seriously.  No one would recognize your claim for independence.  We have to unite around a National Assembly and under a National Flag. 

            Pşımef, who until that moment had been sitting quiet, raised his hands. “Oh God! Thanks you!”, he said. 

            -  Seems my dream is going to be realized.

            Some of the audience cast looks at him smiling. 

            The leaders debated for long hours.  Zaniko expressed in details all what he had been mentally exercising during the past few days.  He advocated convocation of a National Assembly comprising of representatives of all the Adiğe tribes;  and election of an Executive Body, which would act at home and abroad on behalf of the people.

            The Ottoman State had lost the War.  So they had to yield to every demand of the Russians.   According to Sefer Bey, under the circumstances it was not right to condemn the Sultans and his court.  There was little justification for so doing, he believed. 

            Besides, the only authority to be addressed for help was the Ottoman Sultan.  They could receive support from the Sultan alone. 

            And more important was the fact that for them Istanbul was the only outlet to the world.   Both the geographical and political situation of Caucasia so warranted.  The embassies and consulates of the European Big Powers were in Istanbul. 

            Henceforth the Adiğes ought not be represented by others.  They ought to have their own representatives.  An Adiğe Embassy Mission ought to be appointed so that the world could be informed of who were the Adiğes, where they lived, and what did they want. 

            Sefer Bey did not allow the guest leave his place right then.  He delayed their departure by one pretext or the other.  Be it indirectly, he showed them the changes that had occurred in Anapa.  Each time he underlined what needed to be done on their part.  He took care to explained every issue in a language that could be understood by his guests. 

            Finally he hit at the points at which the  self'-conceited people like Şemız and Duğuj were most vulnerable.  He said,

            -  How we are going to counter the Russian artillery batteries and their rifle infantry?  Let me tell you right now what is going to happen.  We would retreat to the highlands step by step as we are beaten at each encounter.  A time  would come when we would be doomed to live in the forests like a savage animal.  Of course that too would depend on their choice! 

            The leaders present appeared to have been unanimously convinced.  Obviously that was not enough.  The participants of the meeting represented the people of the coastal region of Caucasia.  Concurrence of all the tribal peoples in the country was essential. 

            They decided to convene a National Assembly in the Spring. It was agreed that necessary announcements be communicated in the meantime to all quarters concerned.  Each one of the participants of the present meeting was assigned to deliver the message to a specific area. 

            The leaders stayed for two days and two nights at Sefer Bey’s farm-house.  On the third day they set out for their return journey homewards, in small groups, mentally exhausted.

                                                         O0O

            Those with destinations in the south set out from the Zanikos Farm together.  Indaryiko Mehmet, Zaziyiko Memhmet, Bastiko Pşımef, Geriyikos Şemız and Ali, and Batmazyiko Ali formed one group.  Daziyiko Şupaş, accompanied the group to half the way, down to his own village.  The young grooms followed their elders. 

            Kadı Hacı Mehmet, Kadı Hacı Ismail and Islam Geri also rode along with them for a certain distance, before their way home parted. 
 

Indaryiko Mehmet and his company stayed overnight at Daziyiko Şupaş.  Old Tokov²  slaughtered a sheep to lavishly entertained the visitors. 

            The following day the group arrived at Tsemez.  Indaryiko and Zaziyiko were hosted by Şemız.  The former lived in Pşat and the latter in Cuga.  So they had yet a long way to go. 

            Geriyiko Şemız did not let Pşımef go home.  They all had dinner together the same evening, and talked together till late hours of the night; notwithstanding the exhaustion due to the long journey. 

            Their minds were confused by what Sefer Bey had told them.  In fact, however, everything was quite clear.  His message was correct and logical.  His audience felt the pinch of their own ignorance.  They had not so far been dependent to some one else. They had been acting independently.  To adopt binding decisions suited non of them, except Bastiko Pşımef. 

              The Zanikos had heavily suffered during the last two wars.  Two of their business establishments in Anapa had been destroyed.  Their properties had been confiscated.  They were left with the farm at the Vestagoy Valley only.  Sefer Bey was the only person survived in the family having the attributes of leadership. 

            The Çipako-Indar Group of families, by contrast, had several members renouned in the coast.  The cleric Kadı Hacı Mehmet Efendi, and the businessmen  and worriers Indaryiko Mehmet and his son Nogay belonged to the same family.  The Geriyikos too belonged to the same ancestry.

            According to Şemız, it would be difficult for the Çipako-Indar group of families to accept leadership of an outsider; because they could provide more than one candidate.  He wanted to induce this view point to his associates, before it was too late.  He broached the subject after the dinner.  His lead-in sentence was rather provocative.  Şemız said, 

            -  It seems Zaniko wants to be our ruler.  Would you concent to that?

            Şemez approach surprised everyone present there.  They took it aback, and gazed at one another. 

            Indaryiko Mehmet was as ambitious a person as any of his kins-men.  Nevertheless he was a sensible person.  He was conscious how harmful it was for the community to get entangled in internecine dispute.  It was not a time for dispute.  He was very much annoyed at Şemız’s words.  He slightly contracted  his eyelids and replied,

            -  What made you to conclude so?  I do not remember Zaniko having expressed any thing like that.  Did he tell you something in private?

            Şemız was not to step back immediately.  His pride and selfishness often made him obdurate to the extent of getting indecent.  He retorted,

            -  Sefer’s father Zaniko Mehmet made us follow him for years.  He made our boys slaves of  the Ottomans and the Crimean Khans.  What for?  You are aware of those old events and their outcome better than I do!

            Indaryiko was extremely irritated.  He was quiet for a while.  He  thought of walking out.  His Indaryiko pride, however, overwhelmed.  He decided to teach Şemız a lesson.

            -  If there is any one on this land who should not talk about the Ottomans it should be you!  If you disliked the Ottomans so much, what business you had in Istanbul?  Weren’t you the one who had joined the Ottoman Army, and had been running from one front to the other?

            Şemız blushed red.  He did not expect the old Indar would give him a frontal attack.  He had suspected Sefer Bey’s plans, and wanted to find out what his associates felt about it. 

            In a very low tone he replied,

              That is different question!

            Indaryiko maintained,

            -  No, it is not a different thing.  Every Ottoman Paşa assigned to Fort Anapa has called us to unite, and to join hands with him.  We did not cooperate with him.  We held our pride over any other consideration.  We did whatever occurred to our mind  without consulting them.  We have been bickering and feuding all the time.

            He paused for a moment, gazed his audience one by one, and went on. 

            -  Right.  The Khans of Crimea had never been honest with us.  One can not accuse the Ottoman State as such.  To be truthful for the sake of God, I would remind you that the Ottomans have been shielding us for the last fifty years. 

            “So far as the Zanikos are concerned”, he went on after a short pause,
-  No doubt they did commit certain mistakes.  But what Sefer Bey means to do now are highly sensible and consistent things.  In fact I may say that there is no one among us as prudent and knowledgeable as he is. 

            Indaryiko Mehmet then turned to Pşımef and addressed him,

            -  Bastiko! For God’s sake tell me is there any thing wrong in what I said?

            Pşımef shyly smiled. “You are right”, he said. 

            His reply in affirmative was not out of respect for old Indaryiko.  He shared his views.  Nevertheless he did not want to offend Şemız either.

            -  Thamte!³  excuse Şemız for his excitement.  He has often indulged in certain extravagance in the past.  There is nothing ill with his heart. 

            He gazed at Geriyiko while smiling.  He lightly knotted his eyebrows as he turned to Indaryiko Mehmet. 

            - I agree with him on one point.  The Ottoman State never took us seriously.  The Sultans did not take any precautions; therefore Anapa was destroyed three times. 

            Pşımef had not finished yet when Indaryiko interrupted.

            -  Stop accusing the Ottoman State.  They are not around here any more.  Let us talk about the future.  What we should be doing  from now on; let us focus on that. 

            Pşımef said “Okay”, and smiled.  He went on. 

            -  Now I wish to refer to Zaniko.  I fully share your opinion about him.  As you are  aware, I have been advocating similar ideas for many years.  No one heeded what I said; because I was young. 

            He paused, he raised his right fist so as to emphasize his own words. 

            -  We are a highly courageous and strong nation!  We have been fighting for many years against a mighty state like Russia.  But we are fond of being alone just like the savage wolves are.  We are not prepared to reconcile with one another.  We are not rational.  We are guided not by our common-sense, but by our empty pride. 

            The Prince of Tsemez lowered his tone and concluded,

            - Sefer Bey wants to put an end to our self-imposed isolation.  He means, “Let us open up to the outside world.  Let us earn friends”.  I pray his intentions be realized, and our people be united under a single roof. 

            The discussions went on for a few hours more.  As time went by the interest in carrying on the conversation lessened. 

            Pşımef requested the permission of the host, and returned home. 
 

                                                                O0O

            Goşemıd was in her eighties now.  Yet she was strong and healthy.  She went round the colony and checked if everything was as it should be. 

            She was amused when the children run around her calling her “Nenof”⁴. 

            She was not a grandma telling tales.  She always told them the truth, the true stories.  She talked about how they came from the Psıfabe Valley.  She narrated stories about the Basti elders, about the traditions, and good conduct.

            She had been a pessimist when she first came to the coast.  She seemed at odds with every one back at home in Çığızaç.  She felt as if she had been banished to a place far away .

            Her distress then stemmed from her ignorance of the future.  She had thought that she would be doomed to loneliness at the coast.  Not before very long she had to preside over such a crowded family that she had no time to think about the past or to worry about the present. 

            Her womanly worries, however, persisted.  There remained certain dark spots in her mind.  These she tried to clear up during her sleepless nights.  Disappearance of her husband without leaving a trace,  and Smayl’s preference of Pşımef over others to represent the family in Tsemez were enigmas she could not solve.  She could not reconcile with the split up of the family either.

            During the recent years she has been extra concerned with her son.  In the absence of Pşımef she felt deserted.  She was tormented with the anxiety of  the absence of a caretaker of the colony, notwithstanding of the fact that she had more than one son and grand-children around her with unquestionable loyalty and obedience towards her. 

            Whenever  Pşımef was out of the colony, her son-in-law Serkuse Asha used to visit her every day.  Bjafe Pezad and Natho Melah also never neglected her. 

            Pşımef has been conscious of the recent change in the nature of his mother.  He, therefore, did his best to attended to her with increased care. 

            His last trip did not last long.  Yet he was anxious lest his mother should be worried about him.  As he had to stay for late hours that night at Şemız’s place, he had detailed his son Ismail to timely inform Goşemıd. 

             It was well past midnight when Pşımef left Şemız’s guest-house. 

            He found pşılı Marde at the gate of the courtyard waiting for him.  All the dogs in the quarter had gathered around him waving their tails. 

            Pşılı Made had grown very old.  He was as much concerned about Pşımef as Goşemıd has been.  He thought of him more than his own children.  That explained why he was out there at that late hour.  He took immense satisfaction by wishing him “Welcome”.

            It was a moonless dark night.  Yet Pşımef could immediately figure out Marde.  He had his felt-over-coat on.  Though his shoulders had benn hunched, he still looked spectacular. 

            Pşımef knew well that Marde would rush to help him dismount his horse.  So he jumped down the horse before the old man could attempt. 

            The old pşılı approached and received the harness.  “Welcome!”,  he said.  The dogs surrounded Pşımef, waving their tails, rubbing against Pşımef’s legs, and making a queer noise. 

            Pşımef placed his hand on Marde’s shoulder as he asked him how he had been since he saw him last time; and whether everything was in order at the colony. 

            The old man was elated by the kind words of concern; for he considered himself as the only person responsible for the welfare of the colony.  He delightfully replied,

            -  Thanks to God! All of us are well.  There is nothing unbecoming!

            That was all pşılı Marde had to say.  He pulled the horse towards the stable.

            Her three grand-children shared Goşemıd’s bedroom at night.  It was not because of lack of accommodation, Both Goşemıd and the children wanted so.  Goşemef, the eldest daughter of the household; Osman and his elder brother Rampee did not leave their grandma Goşemıd alone.   Ismail and Ahmet, already adolescent, shared together another  bedroom.

            That night when Pşımef came home, all of the children were deep asleep.  His wife and his mother were sitting round the fire-place.  They were waiting for him; for they knew he would come in any moment. 

            Pşımef gently opened the door; but did not step in right away.  Şayze, having received the hint, stood up, and rushed out of the room.  Traditions did not allow the spouses to be in the presence of their mother at the same time. 

            Goşemıd got up to receive her son⁵ .  In the meantime Pşımef rushed towards his mother, placed his hand on her shoulders, and beseeched, “Nan! For God’s sake don’t get up!” 

            Pşımef waited her mother to sit down.  He sat at the corner of the sofa on which Osman way sleeping. 

            The erstwhile harsh, authoritative temperament of Goşemıd was gone.  She tenderly gazed at Pşımef as if she was looking at a baby, not at a gray-haired man as he was.  To her Pşımef grew younger day by day rather then growing older. 

            In response to Pşımef’s question as to her health and well-being, she nodded; “ I am all right; thanks to God, all of us are well,”, she said. 

            Following a short pause, she asked,

            -  What did Zaniko tell you?

            Pşımef painfully smiled.  He was aware that her mother, though in seclusion, was not totally ignorant of what had been going on in the country.  He could not hide anything from her.  He presented her a summary of whatever  had transpired and whatever he had listened to. 

            As her son spoke, the aged lady cast her eyes down and often waved her head, as an indication of her anxiety.  “God willing, our future would be safe, I hope!” , she remarked.

            Goşemıd knew that her son was tiered.  He had asked about Zaniko just for the sake of courtesy.  She cut short.  She walked out of the room in slow steps. 
 
 

                                                            O0O

            The Yeftales in the Psıfabe Valley were quite a populous clan, which comprised of five big families that had emerged  out of a distant common ancestry.  Yeftale Pesti had three sons and two daughters.  Famok was the number two of his sons. 

            Yeftale Pesti was yet alive when Famok was drowned and lost in the Kuban waters.  He, however, passed away soon after.  He was obviously very much grieved over the death of his son. But before his death he had sent his elder son Haboh down to the coast to bring his grandchild and his daughter-in-law. 

            Famok’s widow, Sirse, was from Kutak.  Her parents and brothers were there.  She, therefore, could not go to the Psifabe Valley.

            Before she could object, Goşemıd intervened.  “It is very kind of you to have come here to visit your brother’s wife and children.  We are very pleased.  God may bless you for having taken the pain of coming here.  All of us make a single family.  Do not worry about them.  Famok’s children shall be brought up by us in here” , she said. 

            Both Goşemıd and Pşımef offered Hanoh great hospitality.  Pşımef took him round the coast and introduced him to his own friends, and saw him off presenting precious gifts. 

            During the early days of Famok’s death Goşemıd stayed with Sirse most of the time.  Later on she withdrew to her own place so that the Famoks could conveniently adapt themselves with the new situation. 

             Goşemıd was concerned with the future of not only Famok’s children but also all the children in the Psıfabe colony in Kutak.  She dreamed of wonderful things for them. 

            Nevertheless she had a special favor for Famok’s children.  She pondered about the future welfare of each of them.  She had benevolent planes for them.

            She had special consideration for Famok’s children because she felt she had a moral obligation towards them.  She had committed herself to look after them right at the beginning. 

            For the last few years she has been feeling weaker, and the tempo of her movements had begun to slow down.  So she has been increasingly uneasy about the future welfare of Famok’s children more than that of her own grand-children. 

            Hacimet and Hamız were at marriageable age.  Karej and Nefın were grown up girls now.  Skurin too has been growing fast, closely following her elder sisters.

            Goşemıd had already made plans as to what ought to be done relevant to Famok’s orphans.  The boys were to be married with girls from outside the colony. The girls, however, were to be definitely married with boys from within the colony. 

            Goşemıd planned to give Karej in marriage to her own nephew’s son Neov, and Nefin to Bjafe Pezad’s son Musa.   Skurin could go to her grandson Osman; but it was too early for that; Goşemıd calculated.

            Goşemıd was not given to speak out her mind in the presence of irrelevant persons.  She had kept strictly to herself what she had designed about the Yeftale orphans.  Nevertheless as old age bothered her, she felt the urge of confiding her dreams to some one close enough.  She could disclose her secrets to Pşımef, in particular. 

            Pşımef was preparing for yet another journey.  He was going to the land of the Eastern Şapsiğs together with his own brother-in-law Geriyiko Ali to convey the decisions taken at the meeting held at Sefer Bey’s farm-house.  He planned to finish up the job before the winter season set in.

            Goşemıd increasingly feared lest she died when Pşımef was away from home.  The earlier she disclosed her plans to him the better it would be, she thought. 

            In fact she wished to let her plans be known by all the elder members of the colony at the same time.  She wanted to call in Sirse, her nephew Koce Eşav, and Bjafe Pezad to confide with them.   She even had thought that  it would not be appropriate to exclude Natho Melah and Biyenko Bital from such a meeting.  She was, However, not sure about the reaction of the young men.  She feared they might cause irritation. 

            The children whose wedding she had been planning had grown up playing in the same courtyard.  They never had conceived one as the future spouse of the other. 

            She realized how sensitive a matter it was when she disclosed her plans to Pşımef. She thanked God  for she had not spoken to anyone else that far.  Pşımef manifested an absolutely  negative reaction.  “Nan, what do you mean?” he exclaimed.  He said,

            -  They have grown up as the children of the same household.  Wouldn’t it be gainst our traditions?  Besides; what the neighbor would say?⁶

            Goşemıd knew much better than her son about the rules of the tradition.  Come what may, she was determined to carry out her plans.  She wouldn’t let Famok’s daughters be married to boys from outside the colony.  She wanted them to stay before her own eyes. 

            Having discussed the question with her son Goşemıd calculated that timing was important, and that the matter would be kept secret to the last minute.

            Wedding was a highly popular topic of gossiping in Kutak.  Speculations could spread all over the colony in no time, causing embarrassment to the ones directly involved. 

            Goşemıd prevailed over her son.  It was agreed that if no extraordinary mishap occurred, Famok’s sons were to be wedded in the winter and his elder daughters the following autumn.  Until then the matter was to be kept as a secret between the mother and her son.

                                                          O0O

            The leaders  had made a division of labor among  themselves to communicate the decisions taken at Sefer Bey’s farm-house to the peoples concerned through out the land, on geographical basis. The two Hacis and Indaryiko Mehmet were excused of the obligation because of their advanced age. 

            Zaniko Sefer and Havuduko Mansur were to visit the neighborhood of Anapa, and the territories of Hatukoy and Jane.

            Bastiko Pşımef and Geriyiko Ali were to go to Western Şapsığ, Kemguy, Mehoş, Besleney and the Minor Kabardey. 

            Zaziyiko Mehmet was to tour Cuga and Abhazya.

            Geriyiko Şemız and Indaryiko Nogay was to convey the message to the Abzeh.

            Kalabatuko Hatuk and Şurukyiko Duğuj to the Bjeduğ Region.

            The envoys were supposed to take along as many entourage as may be deemed necessary. Every valley and, if need be every village, was to be visited; and the agenda of the National Congress to be held in May was to be communicated. Influential personalities with authority to take part in decision making were to be invited. 

            Pşımef and Geriyiko Ali, having made all necessary preparations, set out in the first week of October. 

            Pşımef and Ali were accompanied by Koce Eşav, Biyanko Bital and Ismail.

            The Psıfabe Valley was the homeland  of Pşımef and his companions.  The had missed the place very much.  Each of them had crowded families and large number of friends over there.  If need be they could depend on the help of many of them. 

            They could not pass by the Abin Valley without paying a courtesy call on Hacı Huzbek.  They halted there for three days. 

            Hacı had already informed his people about the meeting to be held in the spring.  Nevertheless he deemed it worthwhile to have Pşımef and Ali address the people there.  So he arranged for a meeting. 

            There was another notable person named Janbulat at the Abın Valley beside Hacı Huzbek. Though younger to him, he was a well-known local  hero. 

            Janbek had taken part in all the assaults organized by Haji Huzbek.  He attracted everybody’s attention for his tall and muscular physique, sparkling eyes, and humbleness.  Both Pşımef and Ali were very much impressed by his personality. 

            Pşımef had met Hacı Huzbek on a number of occasions, both in the battle fields and at the meetings. 

            During his three days stay at the Abın Valley he had the opportunity to know him and Janbek more intimately.  Each evening they sat for long hours talking on topics of common interest. 

            Hacı Huzbek and Janbulat were daring and aggressive persons.  They could hunt down any target.  But they were totally ignorant with respect to administration and politics. They were not aware of what was going on in the world. They were like the heroes of the mythical era.  They were prepared to go at the  giants.  The Russians and the Cossacks were not something to be scared of. 

            The following words would typically represent the mentality of Hacı Huzbek and his associates.

            -  Bastiko Pşımef!  You worry for nothing.  Don’t be afraid; We aren’t going to let the Russian and his Cossack dog to cross the Kuban to the south!

            Pşımef and Geriyiko Ali departed the Abın Valley with mixed feelings. They were not in a rush.  Each evening they camped somewhere to rest for the night. 

            The mission was enthusiastically received in the Psıfabe Valley.  They stayed over night at Biyankos’ place in Psıkuy.  Biyanko Bital’s father, Biyanko Fetgeri had expired.  The surviving Biyanko elders lavishly entertained the visitors from the coast. 

            The news that a delegation headed by Basti Pşımef had arrived from the coast soon was heard all over the valley.  A lot of people from the Çığızaç village and from elsewhere on either banks of the Psıfabe stream flocked into Psıkuy.  There gathered several hundred people. 

            The crowd withdrew to the neighboring villages at night and appeared again at Psıkuy in the morning. 

            The crowd around the delegation increased by time. The group reached Çığızaç on the third day of it arrival in the valley,

            People in their middle age and the youth in Çığızaç had rushed to Psıkuy to receive the delegation on the first and the second days of it entry into the limits of the Psıfabe Valley.  They included Sefer, Karbeç and Perit from the Basti family; Kunde and Ahmet from the Koces; Asdır and Batey  from among the Heşiks. Moreover there had come boys from the members of the  Somen Karbek, Hahu Hazeş, Serkuse Haztuk families; as well as from among the  Yoğmes, and Tehus Heşhıs.

            The principal destination was Çığızaç, the village where Pşımef belonged to.  There were enthusiasts from the upstream of the Psıfabe Valley, who came in several  groups to Çığızaç to welcome the envoys.  Nemeruko Şahın Geri had arrived the day before, and was accommodated at the Basti guest-house. 

            The Basti family had a long-standing friendship with the Nemerukos, who lived in the extreme south end of the Psıfabe Valley. 

            All the families in Çığızaç, particularly the Bastis were mobilized; sheep and cattle were slaughtered, and necessary preparations were made to entertain the envoys and the large number of people who had gathered to welcome them. 

            The people of the Valley had already had some idea as to what had been going on.  They were aware that the envoys were there for a specific purpose.  Pşımef and his entourage immediately arranged a meeting. 

            Notwithstanding the cold and cloudy atmosphere, several hundred people gathered at the meadow outside the village.  Young boys and children climbed the lower branches of century-old trees that surrounded the meadow.

            When all were ready, Pşımef came forward and presented Geriyiko Ali to the gathering, and as a matter of courtesy requested him to speak first. 

            Geriyiko Ali was not like his cousin Geriyiko Şemız.  He  spoke well and meaningful.  He was always consistent in his conduct.  While Şemız was good in the use of weapons and at fighting, Ali was good at dealing with people.  He was one of the leading traders in the coast.  Business had provided him with opportunities to know and to handle people as best as possible.

            Geriyiko Ali began his speech by conveying the greetings and salutations of all the popular leaders in the coast; of Zaniko Sefer Bey to begin with. 

            His clear voice and lucid words influenced almost everyone.  Several hundred people gathered at the meadow had their eyes focused on him. 

            Geriyiko narrated the last Russo-Ottoman War and its aftermath;  dilated the undesirable situations that had come up since; and underlined the dangers that threatened the Caucasians, citing examples. 

            -  There are no Turkish forces on the coast to help us any more.  We have to counter the Cossack and Russian aggression by ourselves. 

            He paused, took a deep breath, and gazed at his audience as if to measure the impact of his words upon them.  He went on,

            -  The Russians have already set up military garrisons at Forts Anapa and Sohum⁷ .  I think they will not stop there.  They will set up forts and strongholds along the coast, as they have done in the territories north of the River Kuban, and will settle around  there the starved Mujiks and the Cossacks. 

            Having explained the present de facto situation and the implications involved, Geriyiko Ali reverted to the main theme of his speech. 

            -  From now on we can not afford to exist in the form of disjointed and happy-go-lucky families.  There is an absolute need to unite.  We should have a National Assembly and a National Flag. We are contemplating to hold a meeting of all the leaders of the country to realize it.  We are here to inform you of this endeavor. 

            There was an intensive humming inquiring  the venue of the meeting. 

            Pşımef also addressed the gathering, though briefly.  He disclosed the date and the venue of the meeting.  He advised that everyone should carefully think over the matter. 

            Pşımef’s uncle Smayl and Nemeruko Şahin also addressed the meeting.  They stressed that the proposal conveyed by the envoys should necessarily be  endorsed and supported.

            When the meeting was over, and the gathering dispersed; the visitors and the leading personalities of the Psıfabe Valley returned to the Basti quarters.  There they discussed what were to be done, till late hours that night.

            It was not practically possible for the envoys to visit each of the local leaders individually.  Therefore, the mission formed several teams to the same end. 

            Haşik Adir and two of his friends were to visit the Mehoş and Kemguy territories.  All of them very well acquainted with the local nobility. 

            Biyanko Bital, Koce Eşav and Basti Sefer were assigned to visit the Lower Laba Region, where they would meet with the Besleney and  Nogay tribal leaders. 

            The whole of the Major Kabardey and the plains of the Minor Kabardey had already been occupied by the Russians.  Yet the relevant peoples there also were to be contacted. 

            During the period when General Yermolov was the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Forces in Caucasia, Kabardey and the plains of Çeçenistan had been burnt and destroyed, and the people there had been intimidated to submission.  The Princes, who refused to submit, had left their home and had taken asylum in the neighboring territories.  They sustained resistance from their new bases. 

            For instance; Beslenyiko Aslan, Hatujuko Muhammed, Hamurza Canbolat, Jansetiyiko, and Gazi (the Prince of Karachay) had taken shelter in the Şapsığ Region. 

            Rustem Pe and his brother Ali had set up their headquarters at  the highlands at the upstream basin of the streams Urup and Selencuk, the tributaries of the River Laba.  Ali and his children had settled down in the Abhaz land.  Himself and his fighting-men had been on continuous  lookout  for enemy interference, raided the Russian lines at opportune times.

            Prince Hatujuko Muhammed was a man of virtues.  He was courageous and  unyielding person.  A few years earlier with a small force he had crossed the river Terek and raided a Russian garrison.  He was killed at the fierce battle fought there.  His sons have since sustained the struggle. 

            Bastiko Pşımef, Geriyiko Ali and Nemeruko Şahin Geri were to contact and if possible to talk with the Adiğe Prices in exile. 

            The valleys cut deep by the streams of Dodz, Urup, Selenouk, the Lesser Inç and the Greater Inç; and the hills separating one valley from the next one all were covered by forest.  The terrain was steep.  The area provided shelter to many a patriots from Kabardey and from Karachay-Balkar.  They lived in austerity under extremely adverse conditions.  They hunted in the mountains and the forests, and raided the Russian settlements whenever the situation was appropriate.  Pillaging had become a way of life to them; for they had no other alternative to keep alive under the conditions they had been pushed to. 

            Highly difficult as it was for elderly persons to move through the hills and the forest, the younger members of the emissaries took over the job. 

            It was relatively convenient to contact the Princes in the valleys of the Lower Hodz and Psoz.  The younger members of the group assigned to the valleys of Urup and Selencuk also were able to carry out their mission.  They were able to deliver the message  addressed to Rustem Pe.

            It was agreed that a restricted meeting be held at Şelaleler (the Waterfalls), at the upstream of the River Shagoşe.  The area was gifted with a magnificent natural scenery.  It was in the vicinity of the Dehğu Village, located at the confluence of two streams that made up the River  Shagoşe.   All over the place was covered with a dense forest. 

            About six or seven years ago there had been a fierce fighting here. Bekovich, the traitor Adiğe Prince, and  Col. Katsirev had attacked the place on the pretext of chasing the fugitive Princes. 

            The inhabitants of the Dehğu village welcomed the idea of holding a meeting at Waterfalls.  They made all  necessary preparations to receive and entertain the participants of the meeting. 

            It was a sunny day in late October.  The emissaries from the coast and the princes sheltered in the highlands got together. 

            Beslenyiko Aslan and Janseiyiko were well dressed.  Gazi, the Prince of Karaçay, and Rustem Pe appeared like legendary heroes. On them they had rough over-coats made out of  the skin of wild goat.  The looked impressive, but wild.

            Bastiko Pşımef and Geriyiko Ali gazed at the two highlanders with interest and somewhat bemused.  But when the two began to talk, they were very much impressed.  Under the primitive and crude appearance they found highly humane individuals saturated with patriotic sentiment. 

            The emissaries and the fugitive Princes stayed at Dehğu for two days and  discussed various issues.  They had much to tell to one another. 

            The Princes promised that they would attend the meeting to be held next spring. 

            The emissaries safely returned to the Psıfabe Valley.  They had to wait there for the  envoys, who had gone to other regions, to return.  Pşımef, in the meantime, took Geriyiko Ali on tour of the area.  He took him to the Çemko Farm, in which the Bastis took pride.  They stayed there overnight. 

            Pşımef, Koce Eşav and Biyenko Bital have been in the coast for a long time now.  Their relatives and friends in Çığızaç had missed them and  were eager to entertain them.  They were invited to many places in Çığızaç and other villages in the neighborhood.  They did not want to offend anyone.  They have been runnig  from one house to the next, from one village to the other all the time.  So on occasions they had to take  meals offered to them five of six times a day. 

            The emissaries that had gone to the regions of Kemguy, Mehoş, Laba, and Besleney returned with good news. 

            Geriyiko Ali was in a hurry to set out for the return journey; for it was already a month and half since they had left the coast. Heşik Adir did not let them leave right away. “You sent me to Kemguy.  I was deprived of enjoying your company here.  So you must stay with me for some time,” he insisted. They were obliged to stay in Çığızaç for two days more.

            It was Ali’s first visit to the Pasıfabe Valley.  He was very pleased for the welcome accorded.  Being the brother -in-law of Pşımef, the Basti family were particularly keen to make Ali happy.  Smayl presented him with a saddled horse, when departing.  The other Bastis also gave him different gifts. 

            The farewell ceremony too was a magnificent event. Several hundred horsemen escorted them over a long distance.  Those of the right bank escorted them to Psikuy in the left bank, and from there for a distance of half a day’s ride, where the escort returned home upon the insistence of Pşımef.

                                                          O0O