İmam Mansur  has been under close  Russian surveillance.  The Russian agents had infiltrated his headquarters.  His victories in the east had greatly perturbed the Governor General and the Russian commanders.

            Queen Catherine became very nervous as she read the reports relevant to Mansur.  She was disturbed.

            Before her there was a divided Caucasia, unable to form a united government.  Now there had  come up a dervish¹  like fellow who claimed : “I am Ordained  by God and His Prophet to reform and unite the peoples of Caucacia!” The material power of the Imam, whatever it be, was not important.  It could be destroyed any time.  His ideas, however, were terrific.  Should his massage become a popular ideal, and Caucasia be united as a result;  it could reverse the tide.

            The Queen had grown old.  But her greed, her thirst for expansion of her realm, had not diminished a bit.  Through the long winter nights she brooded over Mansur, grinding her artificial teeth. She wrestled with mansur in her dreams.  She issued orders for his capture and execution soonest possible.  She sent out special messengerto the Russian General Command Headquarters in Tiflis.

            Imam Mansur passed the Winter of 1786-1787 in the western Kabardey Region. He chose for his headquarters a village located in between the rivers Küçük Inç and Selencuk.

            During that winter he studied the situation in the neighborhood.  He regretted over the disquiet in the Kabardey.

            The Princes, who ruled Kabardey, were in dispute with one another.  Though they had a common background, yet they could not share power.  The subject people had been fed up with their unending feud.  They no longer respected their masters.  Some of them had escaped to the north of the river Terek and hopefully sought asylum in  the Russians occupied territories.

            Mansur, essentially a man of religion, a Muslim priest, considered the issue from the point of view of a priest.  According to him the principle of equality enunciated by Islam was potent enough to achieve a united government in Caucasia.  He composed his sermons and speeches on the basis of the same theme.

            He had advisers from various tribes.  Most of his commanders comprised of  Çeçen and Daghistani fighters.  He was delighted when some of the Kabardey Princes and Vorks²  declared allegiance to him.  It reinforced his hope for unity and triumph.

            As the spring season set in, the number of volunteers in his camp began to grow.  There came delegations to visit him from various tribes, including the Besleney, Kemguy, Mehoş, and the Şapsığs in the valleys of Hodz and Psız, and the Nogays in the Lower Laba Basin.  They wanted to know him better.  The delegations set up camps close to Mansur’s headquarters, attended his sermons, and listened to his speeches for several days.

            During the same days there arrived a group of popular representatives from the Psifabe Valley as well.  The Basti delegation to Mansur’s Headquarters was headed by Basti Kasay and Biyenko Fetgeri.  Basti Bram had seen to it that all the villages in the Psıfabe Valley were represented in the delegation.  Lasmar was also on the delegation.

            Basti Kasay and his companions presented themselves to Imam Mansur.  He said that they had come from the Psıfabe Valley, and added that the region was prepared to join him if he moved to the west. He introduced Lasmar to him as the commander of the cavalry force raised for the same purpose by the people of the Psıfabe Valley.

            Imam Mansur and Basti Kasay had difficulty in communicating, though their ideals were common. They did not use the same language.  They used interpreters who had poor knowledge of the Çeçen language.

            Imam Mansur estimated that  his problems would increase as he advanced to the west.  The earliest indications justifying his foreboding appeared at the “”upstream basin of the rivers Hodz and Psız, where he found that the Şapsığ tribe did not have adequate knowledge on Islam.

            Nevertheless it did not frustrate him.  As far as he could guess there was a keen interest towards Islam in the whole of western Caucasia.  What made things difficult for him, however, was the language barrier. At his headquarters the languages and dialects in use in northern Caucasia were spoken.  There existed no common language to communicate without interpretation, a situation that prohibited him in conveying his message in a precise and clear manner.

            He was confident that if he could communicate with the masses the way he wished to, he could unite them on a single platform, and could dissolve the differences among them.

            Indeed he had a strong power of persuasion.  His words were effective.  He was the kind of a leader that the people had been looking for.

            Alas! He could not address the people of various localities in their language.  He could not convey his enthusiasm, his ideals and his longing with the same intensity as he himself felt.  His meaning was diluted, and often distorted while being interpreted by incompetent intermediaries.

             Therefore, he was very sorry.  After every prayer he raised his hands, gazed at the infinite space above, and beseeched God Almighty,

            -  O my Almighty God! Give me the power of  Prophet Solomon³ , so that I may be able to convey your commands to this people, who do not understand each other’s language, though they stay under the same roof.  Let me tell them that they are brothers, that they had been fed from the same breast!

            Imam Mansur had  not been idle during the winter months.  He had tried to collect information relevant to  the Russian forces in Caucasia.

            The Russians had enormously expanded in the course of the last decade marked by what were called as the periods of Prince Potemkin, General Von Mademe and General Yakobi respectively.  During the decade they had built in the north of the rivers Kuban and Terek ten forts, five communication bases, and had set up the important settlements of Stavrapol, Georgievsky,  Yekatrinograd, Pavlovskaya, Mariskaya and Alekssandrov.  The first two of them in turn were used as the General Command Headquarters.  The Fort Mozdok and the surrounding area retained its distinction as the first colonial settlement.

            Whatever information he could obtain were exclusively concerning  the situation in Caucasia. What were going on in the West?  What they talked about in the capitals of the empires, which shaped the  world?  He had little idea about all those.

            During the previous summer Queen Catherine had met with the Emperor of Austria.  Thy had bargained as how to share the Ottoman territory of Crimea.  Now they were conspiring to start a war to create a pretext to implement the agreement they had reached at.  They have continually been provoking the Ottoman Government in Istanbul.

            Catherine, while advocating independence for the Balkan peoples, was doing the opposit as far as Caucasia was concerned.  She branded the defensive activities of the Caucasians across the rivers Kuban and Terek as violation of the Peace Treaty,  protested the Ottoman Government, and held them responsible.

            Meanwhile the Russian Ambassador in Istanbul was not idle either.  He has been communicating the demands and threats of his Government to the Ottoman Prime Minister.  The Ottoman Sultan and his statesmen were about to play into the hands of the Russian Queen.  They were at the threshold of  another war.

            Imam Mansur could endanger Russian position in Caucasia in the event of a war.  So the Russians wanted him be destroyed urgently.

            Queen Catherine and his generals had plans to handle him.  Embassy intelligence reports suggested that the Sultan and his courtiers suspected Imam Mansur.  They had been yet unable to discover his personality correctly.  It provided Russia with a good opportunity.

            General Potemkin acted to exploit the situation.  He planned to remove the Imam from the stage without a fight.

            To avoid alarming the Ottoman forces at the forts along the Coast, the Russian command did not move their troops in the Taman region.  Instead they deployed the Army Corps units in central Caucasia  commanded by Brigadier Generals Radief and Yelagin, and Col. Rebinder along the rivers Selenuk and Laba.  They knew that Imam Mansur was there for the winter.

            They Russian troops made necessary preparations during the winter to cross the River Kuban.  The Mehoş region was selected as the right place for crossing.  The southern bank of the river was  marshy and wooded, and offered a shield against being exposed.

            General Radief was in command of the reserve troops.  Col. Rebinder moved with his light artillery, rifled infantry regiments and the Cossack cavalry early in June.

            The Nogays, who had settled in the wide plains to the south of the confluence of the rivers Kuban and Laba, though used to go out for pasturing; did not leave the home base unattended.

            When the Russian troops began crossing the river, the Nogays detected it first.  Those old male and female Nogays, who had been  left behind at home, rushed out in all directions to alarm all those concerned about the approaching danger.

            The main inhabitants of the area, that is the Mehoş, was a minor tribe. They stayed in their villages, and  took defense measures; and in the meantime sent out messengers to seek help from Imam Mansur as well as from the  Şapsığ, Kemguy and Besleney tribes.

            The people of the Lesser Kabardey, those in the Psıfabe Valley, and the ones in the areas between them were extremely alarmed.

            Bram was highly excited when he was told that a Russian army had crossed the Kuban and had entered the Mehoş territory.  His face turned pale.  He blankly looked around for a while.  Finally the fear and excitement that had overwhelm his soul turned to a terrible rage.  He shouted,

            -  Be quick! tell Lasmar to come over here.

            Within two days a six hundred strong cavalry unit was readied.  It was placed under the joint command of Biyenko  Fetgeri and Basti Lasmar.

            The Psıfabe Valley Cavalry troops, were assembled in Çığızaç.  Bastiko Bram and the other elders of the Valley bade them farewell outside the village, and gazed with concern behind them for a long time.

            Lasmar, being deeply preoccupied with his assignment, was not able to pay a last minute visit to Çemko.  Goşemıd had been back in Çığızaç along with her children.  The proud lady had desisted appearing before the male elders.  She had to suffice gazing sorrowfully at her husband from a distance.

            The news about  movement of the Russian army quickly reached the headquarters of Imam Mansur.

            Very few people were left with Mansur during the winter.  Most of the fighting-men had returned home for want of shelter against cold at the Imam’s Headquarters.  The Imam did not wait for their return. He sent out messengers in all directions, and moved on to action.

            He had a force of two thousand strong with him.  More volunteers joined him as he moved further to the west.  People from the Lesser Kabardey, and from the Urup and Psız valleys joined him on the way.  They entered the Besleney territory in a disorganized manner.  When the Imam and his followers neared the river Laba, he was informed that the Pasıfabe and Nogay cavalry support unites were approaching.  He sent out scouts to receive them.

            Col. Rebinder had his headquarters at Obun, a stronghold to the north-west of the river Laba.  He had considered it tactically fit to halt there rather  than advancing.

            He had two reasons for his choice.  Firstly he was a stranger to the area.  He feared being ambushed.  Secondly he wanted Mansur to come upon him.  He perceived that an encounter in such a manner would be favorable to him.  In that case he could profitably use his artillery batteries.

            Rebinder executed his plan tactfully.  He let his adversary know where he was.  He organized small scale hit and run operations.   His idea was to provoke the enemy.

            Masur was not a military man.  He was essentially a holy man.  He was ignorant of the war tactics.  He advanced hurriedly in pursuit of the Russian scouts.  He attacked, unawares of the trap the enemy had laid for him.

            The Caucasian force entirely made up of cavalry, had unfolded like a fan.  So they formed an easy prey to the Russian artillery and rifled infantry.

            The Psıfabe cavalry commanded by Lasmar, and Nogays were on the left flank.

            The Mirzas, who commanded the Nogay force, were men of experience.  They had fought in the last Crimean war.  Moreover during the post-war period they had struggled hard for existence in their new environment in the Kıpçak Steppes.  They were familiar with the Russians and the Cossacks.

            The Nogay Mirzas advised patience to Lasmar, who wanted to attack immediately.  They suggested to attack from the flank and from the rear, rather than right from the front.

            For Lasmar it was his first battle engagement; and what more, he was to direct the troops under his command.  He had little practical knowledge, except what had been told to him.  He followed the advise of the Nogay Mirzas.

            To the left, the terrain was partly wooded and partly covered by tall weeds.  The Psıfabe and Nogay troops managed to approach the enemy without being detected.

            Col. Rebinder had withheld the Cossacks, and had let loose artillery bombardment on Mansur’s  main force.  He planned to wipe them out as soon as they were within the range of rifle fire.

            The Cossack Atamans⁴  had detected the attempted encirclement.  Shouting their peculiar battle cry, they charged .

            The Nogays countered them with a charge of equal ferocity.

            Lasmar momentarily hesitated.  Looked behind, as he held the harness tight.  The Cossacks were coming on him at a lightening speed.

            On his right side there was Biyanko Fetgari, and on his left there were his cousins, Aslan and Smayl.

            Fetgari, who had gazed at him at the same instant,  found him rather pale.  He said,

            - Don’t be excited! And don’t ever neglect your rear!
He raised his sward, and ordered the Psıfabe Unit to attack. Lasmar followed him.

            Lasmar bent over the mane of his horse, holding his rifle in his right hand, and his eyes fixed on the enemy lines, and recalled what had been narrated to him about the Anapa Battle.  He remembered how his uncle Takir had been hit.  So it was what they called a war, and he was going to be  in  it in a moment, he thought.

            To begin with, the rifles already loaded were fired.  That was followed by rattling of sabers all around amidst gun-powder smoke. A fierce close fight ensued.

            Lasmar instantly held his rifle with his left hand and hung it on his shoulder,  pulled out his sword with his right hand, and at a single stroke rolled down the first  of the Cossack riders  who approached to assail him.  He galloped forward with renewed vigor.  An enemy rolled down in blood each time when his powerful right arm descended.

            No one could stop him.  Besides, his greedy horse ever thrusting forward, was neighing and forcing its harness be relaxed. At that very moment Lasmar remembered what Biyenko Fetgari had warned him last.  He halted his horse,  which was about to plunge into a group of Cossacks, who in the meantime had managed to penetrate the Adiğe line.  He gazed at his cousins to his left .  He notice Smayl fighting carefully, while Aslan engaged undaunted.    He commanded,

            -  Keep up the lines!  Don’t  get detached!

            Lasmar himself and most of his colleagues had learnt how to use weapons at very early age.  They had often been on hunting parties. It was their first experience of an actual battle field, though.  Nevertheless he was able to overcome his excitement very soon. He relaxed.  With little fear and haste he was on guard against the enemy,  rolled down to the ground any Cossack who may have ventured to approach him.

            Notwithstanding the heavy loss they suffered, the Cossacks resisted.

            The main force, commanded by Imam Mansur personally, had been disorganized under the impact of heavy artillery bombardment.

            The situation on the left flank suddenly worsened.  Two of the Nogay leaders were seriously wounded and fell from their horses.  The Nogay cavalrymen, left with no one to command them, was routed; began running away in panic.

            Biyenko Fetgari was more experienced than Lasmar.  Whenever safe, he gazed to his sides and far beyond, and kept a watch on the overall situation of the battle.  As he detected routing of the Nogays he stood up and shouted at the peak of his voice,

            -  Fire your loaded pistols, and retreat!

            The same command was repeated all along the line by  Company Commanders.

            Most of the cavalrymen were without a rifle or a pistol.  Nevertheless about two hundred pistols were fired.  The field once again was filled with smoke and flying dust.  Some of the Cossacks in the foreground rolled down, while the rest of momentarily halted in confusion.

            The Psıfabe force, took advantage of the confusion in the enemy lines, began retreating.  In the meantime the rifles and the pistol were loaded again.  The Cossacks, who ventured to chase them, were fired at.

            As the retreat progressed, there did take place sporadic skirmishes, either between detachments or individuals.

            Lasmar was at the end of the retreating line.  He was anxious about his cousin Smayl, a rather physically weak person.  He was guarding him against the Cossacks, who were following him.

            The retreat the and chase operations spread over a wide area due to the nature of the terrain and the flora.  The lines were  confused; both those on retreated and those in pursuit were far detached.

            At one point Lasmar, presuming that the danger was over, slowed down and looked back.  He noticed three Cossacks riders approaching him through the thick overgrown weeds.  To avoid being an easy target of the three at once, spurred his horse to the right in flight.  Meanwhile he did not ignore hitting a Cossack who rushed by his side.  The next one attacked him making a curve turn.  He was a huge man with  a dense beard.

            Lasmar intercepted his sword with his own in the air.  He could not escape the strike by the third man at the same time, however.  He did bend, avoiding his head or his shoulder  being chopped off. The enemy sword hit him on the left arm.

            Had the incident escaped the notice of Biyenko Fetgari and Basti Aslan the result could have been fatal. They arrived to his rescue in time, and grounded the Cossack riders with strong  strokes of their swords, and spurred their horses to gallop away, keeping Lasmar in between them.

            The flesh of Lasmar’s left arm had been slashed, and his elbow smashed by the enemy’s sword.  They tide fast his arm to stop bleeding, and then dressed the wound.

            The Russians were scared of pursuing their enemy any further.  They had caused serious damage to the main body of the Caucasian army through their superior fire power.  They too had suffered a significant amount of causality.

            Imam Mansur realized his own tactical mistake.  He admitted how grave a blunder it had been to advance in the open ground against an enemy with artillery and rifled troops, ready to receive him.  He did not order to renew the offensive.  He positioned his forces in forests along the river Laba.  He waited to confront the enemy there, ensuring due surveillance of the enemy movements.

            Col. Rebinder was cautious enough not to leave his stronghold.  He consolidated his defenses, and waited for a second offensive by the Caucasians in vain.

            Basti Smayl had been lightly wounded on the shoulder.  He forgot about his own suffering when he saw Lasmar’s condition.  Lasmar had lost a good deal of blood.  He looked pale in the face.  He laid quietly as the army surgeon renewed his dressing. He simply closed his eyes and bit his lips.

            Meanwhile Biyenko Fetgary ordered a roll-call of the Psıfabe Unit.  It was assessed that they had lost about twenty fighters and there were about a hundred wounded.

            Soon they overcame the shock of the horrible encounter, and began attending to care the wounded.  The more serious ones were evacuated to safer places in the rear, and the flow of logistic support was ensured by sending out messengers to the villages in the neighborhood.

            Each of the belligerent sides kept the other under close surveillance.  Every day Imam Mansur watched the horizon to his north, and Col. Rebinder scrutinized the  horizon to his south.  Non of them tended to ignore any details.

            Col. Rebinder had not expected a resistance so  tough on the part of  Imam Mansur’s forces.  He in fact appreciated the courage demonstrated by the peasant- army, totally ignorant of  military tactical maneuvers. He was at a loss  to comprehend the order and obedience maintained in the rank and file of the Caucasian army.  The Caucasian riders used their sword more effectively than the Russians; and  without their artillery and rifled infantry, they could not stand against the Caucasians, he assessed.

            Persistent tension tended  to wear out human patience. Under adverse conditions time passed too slowly. This were valid in the case of Col. Rebinder as well.

            The haughty Russian was increasingly nervous, and passed the nights sleepless.

            The Russian soldiers swaetted in the hot and humid climate during the day and were tortured by clouds of mosquitoes at night.  Worst of all, their stock of food was nearly depleted.

            Besides, Col. Rebinder was under increasing pressure of Imam Mansur. The morale condition of the Colonel and his troops was greatly undermined by nightly harassment raids organized by small voluntary detachments of the Imam’s forces.

            Finally Col. Rebinder’s endurance weakened.  One night he packed up and withdrew his force stealthily to the north across the river Kuban.
 
 
 

OOO
 
 
 
 

            Imam Masur remained in the area for some times after  the withdrawal of the Russian troops; and in late summer demobilized his forces.  He and  allowed the Kabardey, Besleney and Nogay volunteers in his army to return home.  The Şapsığs from the Shagoşe and Pasıfabe Valleys; and his disciples, who formed the core of his forces, stayed with him.  All together they moved to westward.

            Biyenko had earlier dispatched all the wounded personnel in his unit, except Lasmar, to the Psıfabe Valley.  The old Basti had insisted to stay on with the force.  So they too moved on together with Imam Mansur.

            Mansur camped at Miyekope Village in the Shagoşe Valley, where he set up his headquarters.  He dispatched emissaries from among his disciples to all parts of the region accompanied by Şapsığ guides.  He invited the heads of prominent families for a conference at his headquarters.

            Imam Mansur’s fame had spread far and wide in the last two years.  Everyone was anxious to see him or learn more about him.  Soon visitors swarmed into the village.

            Basti Bran, notwithstanding his advanced age, took the pain of two days tiresome journey to Miyokope.  Accompanied with representatives of the Psifabe Valley, he called on Imam Mans, and earnestly invited him to Çığızaç.

            Right then an unexpected development occurred.

            Russian agents had been after Imam Mansur. The Russian field commander had been informed that Imam Mansur had demobilized greater part of his force and had withdrawn to Miyekope with an insignificant number supporters.  The Russians, therefore set out to cash the opportunity.

            On October 13,  1787 a ten-thousand strong Russian force crossed the river Kuban.  This time the Russian troops were commanded by professional volunteers.  The Don Cossacks were commanded by Ataman Illovoyaki, while the rifled infantry was headed by Prince Goriç, a renegade Kabardey  aristocrat, who had taken shelter with the Russians and had converted to Christianity.  He sought fame in destroying his own race.

            Two light artillery batteries  was commanded by a young officer. He had pledged his superiors that he would bring back the severed head of Imam Mansur.

            An unprecedented panic prevailed in the area.  The villages along the river Laba were evacuated. The people took refuge in the forests.  The Russia army advanced, destroying each and every village it came by.

            The news virtually shocked the headquarters of Imam Mansur.  He soon  recovered from  bewilderment;  and with whatever force available he immediately set out to confront the enemy.

            Biyenko Fetgari wanted to keep Lasmar out of the up coming confrontation.  But Lasmar forthright rejected Fetgari’s advise.

            Bastiko Bram was non-committal with respect to Lasmar’s participation in the next battle.  In fact he was not in a condition to consider such a detail; for the reported onslaught of the Russian army across Kuban had profoundly disturbed him.

            Lasmar’s wound had healed up; the broken bones had welded.  His left arm, however, was not in proper state.  He could not freely move it. The nerves having been severed, his left side was paralyzed.   He had to have his left arm hung up.

            Despite being so incapacitated, Lasmar mounted his horse with a remarkable agility, and rode fast after Biyenko Fetgari.

            Bastiko Bram, worrisome, bade farewell to the warriors.  He then set out for home, together with other representatives, to take timely measures against any possible emergency situation.

            The Russia army proceeded cautiously en-bloc.  It set on fire the evacuated villages along the river Laba, taking care that no human  beings was left behind alive.

            The Russians, moved forward without being entangled with smaller local resistance. They wanted to reach their destination soonest possible.  They anticipated Imam Mansur to attack first, as it had happened last time.

            Imam Mansur had earned several precious experience in the battle against Col. Rebinder’s troops early last summer.  He was not going to fell prey to the enemy gunfire, this time.

            By the time the Russian forces approached, he divided  his men into two flanks, and assigned the commanders who would execute his plans.  Instead of a field battle, which would obviously ruinous, he planned a hit and run warfare. Thereby he intended to harass and wear out the enemy.

            The Caucasian cavalry units moved according to his instructions.  They entered the gunfire range and immediately galloped out of it as the guns started firing.  Occasionally when small Cossack detachments followed them, they led them into the depth of the forest and destroyed.

            The Russian artillery-men were exhausted by continually changing the position of their guns so as to keep track of the mobile targets.The outrageous Cossacks tended to grow increasingly nervous.

            The warfare went on as such for about ten days. There was little significant fighting, except a few isolated clashes between smaller detachments.

            The torrential rains that ensued caused great inconvenience to the Russians. On the muddy terrain moving the guns presented a serious problems.  The vehicles bearing their food supply and ammunition were virtually rendered immobile, a situation that disrupted the morale of the logistic unites.

            Finally the invaders retreated fast in panic, leaving behind their heavy equipment and the animals.

            Though Imam Mansur could not achieve any appreciable military superiority over the enemy; and  in the literal sense there was no victory won on the part of the Imam;  but yet it was a significant success to have forced the Russians to abandon fighting and to withdraw.

            The Russian troops had caused great destruction in the Besleney and Mehoş regions on both sides of the river Laba.  The people learned the hard way the danger presented by Russian conquest. As a result they were inspired to fight against the enemy.

            Imam Mansur returned to Miyekope by the end of November, set up his headquarters there with his loyal disciples.

            The companions of the Imam were too many to be accommodated in the village.  So the excess were sent out in groups to other villages in the neighborhood.  A part of them were taken along by Lasmar and Biyenko Fetgari to the Psıfabe Valley.  The Psifabe Valley Unit and the guests were ceremoniously received there.

            Lasmar had lost his usual glamour.  His head tilted to his left shoulder as if trying to keep up his balance.  As such he reminded one of the great Basti Dadu.

            He looked quiescent and  sluggish.  Being incapacitated, he seemed to have lost his passion and will-power. His wife Goşemıd  and all the rest of the Bastis were very sorry for him.

            That was what Lasmar’s outward condition suggested.  No one was aware of the deluge in his inner self.  The uncertainty that eroded his determination, and the worrisomeness caused by ignorance, which hitherto marred his character, were gone.  The war and distresses that  accompanied it had profoundly changed Basti Lasmar.

            Indeed, his loved ones were not too surprised at the change in his quiescence; for he had not been a talkative person in the past.  He used to easily burst out when nervous or excited.

            He continually thought of the war.  He visualized the mustached Cossacks whom he rolled down, one at each stroke of his sword.  Most of the nights he dreamed himself engaged in  hand to hand fight with the Cossacks.  Some times he woke up talking in his sleep, and then sat cross-legged at his bed for long hours.

            Goşemıd, after having put the children to bed, used to feed the hearth with thick logs of wood, and sit under the candle light with her handwork. Se sat there listening to the respiration of  her sleeping husband, and pondered about what the future could have in store for the family.

            She had given up her erstwhile rigidity.  Her behavior towards Lasmar was not only one of a loving spouse, but also one of an affectionate mother. Her words and movements were measured and devoid of exaggeration.

            The climate of Çemko as well as the care on the part of the residents of the farm were helpful.  Lasmar recuperated in one month.  He no longer was bothered by his disabled left arm. He could ride between Çemko and Çığızaç by himself as he did before.  Now he could look after the Disciples of Imam Masur, who were the staying guests in Valley.

            Lasmar went to the Shagoşe Valley in the middle of January, when everywhere was covered with a thick layer of snow; and visited Imam Mansur at Miyekope.

            Imam Mansur remembered the brave man who had commanded the Psıfabe Valley units. He seated Lasmar by his side, placed his hand on his shoulder, and affectionately gazed into his eyes.  He then turned to his aids said in a sad tone,

            -  Please tell him’ I am very sorry for his disabled arm.  I am, however , sure that he would have an exalted place in eyes of Allah!

            Lasmar stayed at Miyekope for about ten days.He offered prayer at the congregations led by Imam Mansur, attended his sermons and lectures; and departed him inspired with peace of mind and self-confidence.  Upon his return home her narrated his observations and information to the elders of the family, mainly to Basti Bram.
 
 
 

O0O
 
 
 
 

            The Ottoman Empire declared war against Russia in September 1787.  The news of war reached Forts Anapa and Soğucak somewhat delayed.  Imam Mansur received the news as late as mid-winter.

            The popular leader was highly excited, which he tried to conceal; but he could not manage.  He gazed at those in his presence at that moment one by one, and murmured, I wonder whether it is true,” He said,

            -  Finally the days we have been waiting  for have come!

            Mansur nurtured great respect for and confidence in the Ottoman Sultan, the Caliph of all the Muslims.  He believed that the Sultan would certainly send a powerful army to  Caucasia, and would push the Russians further to the north; and that the occupied territories and Crimea would be liberated.  He was positive about it.

            He passed that winter in making preparations.  He set out in the Spring of 1788.  He proceeded to the west.

            At the approaches of the Psıfabe Valley he was received by a  large group headed by Basti Bram.

             On behalf of the people of the Psıfabe alley he asked him to stay in the Valley for some time.  Imam Mansur could not turn down the request of the people, who had supported him by dispatching a disciplined cavalry force, which so bravely fought on his side last summer.   He was very much impressed by the way they now received him.

            In the spring the streams and the rivers swelled due to melting of ice and snow on the mountains, as well as because of the seasonal rains.  It was extremely difficult to cross the torrential waters.

            With the intent to keep Imam Mensur in the Valley, Basti Bram reminded him of the problems he would encounter on his way at that time of the year.   He advised him to wait for the flooding waters to subside.

            Imam Mansur was hosted by the Bastis in Çığızaç, while his disciples were dispersed to the neighboring villages.  A part of the Imams companions camped in tents they pitched on the plains along the Psıfabe Stream.

            Lasmar was not satisfied with the tents.  In a short time he got built several hundred timber barracks for the Imam’s troops.

            Çığızaç was full of visitors from other villages of the Valley.  The well-to-do families virtually competed with each other in meeting the requirements of the guest-army.

The people at the headquarters of Imam Mansur spoke in about ten different languages. They included volunteers from  Daghistan and Çeçenistan; and from the territories of the  Kabardey, Balkar, Nogay, Besleney, Kemguy, and Şapsığ tribes;  one group trying to understand the language of other groups, and also trying to follow the Imam’s message.  Nevertheless they had forgotten the tribal and social  differences among them, and had fused together into a single community, excepting the language barrier.  The former Princes and Beys orderly lined up in the presence the Imam, together with other members of  the community with lesser social status.