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Ciotat La, a seaport of France, in the depart-
ment of Mouths of the Rhone, defended by a
strong fort. It is famous for muscadine wine,
and seated on the Bay of Laquee, 14 m. S. E. of
Marseilles.
Circars, five provinces of the Deccan of Hindoo-
stan, on the Bay of Bengal. They were original-
ly denominated Northern, from their position in
respect to the Carnatic.xe2x80x94Under the Mogul dy-
nasty the government of these provinces was vest-
ed in the nizam of the Deccan, and were assign-
ed to the French in 1753, for arrears of pay claim-
ed by them fur auxiliary troops, with which they
had supplied the nizam. In 1759 they were con-
quered from the French by the English; and in
1765 were formally ceded by the Great Mogul,
Shah Alum, to the English East India Company,
during the governorship of lord Clive. Four of
these provinces, viz. Guntoor, Codapilly, Ellore,
and Rajamundry, comprise about 7,000 square miles
of territory, between the Mouths of the Kristna
and Godavery rivers, and the line of 16. to 17. of
north latiude, and the fifth, Ciacole, extends in a
N.E. direction along the shore of the Bay of Ben-
Sal, from the Godavery River, in the latitude of 17.
f. for about 280 miles, to the lake Chilka, and is
about 60 miles in mean breadth. This is the dis-
trict from whence 500,000 to 600,000 pieces of
cotton manufactured goods were formerly import-
ed into England, under the name of long cloths,
Sallampores, and calicoes ; and handkerchiefs un-
der the name of Mazulipatams, &c.; it is also
fertile in maize. Ciacole is now divided into two
districts, viz. Ganjam and Vizigipatam, and the
other four circars resolved into three districts, viz.
Rajamundry, Mazulipatam, and Guntoor.
Circassia, a country of Asia, lying between the
44th and 45th degrees of north lat. and longitudi-
nally between the Black Sea, the Sea of Azof
and the Caspian; its precise boundaries are very
undefined; the Caucasian Mountains dividing it
from the territories ofthe Abkhas, may be consid-
ered as forming its boundary on the south; but
the habits of the people being completely preda-
tory, they acknowledge no boundary but that pre-
scribed by the force of arms. It was formerly
governed by several princes; but is now almost
wholly subject to Russia, and included in the
government of Caucasus. It contains the dis-
tricts- of Great Cabarda, Little Cabarda, Beslen,
Temirgoi, Abasech, Bseduch, Hatukai, andBsha-
ni. From the peculiarly advantageous local cir-
cumstances of this country, and the extraordina-
ry courage, and military genius of its inhabitants,
it might become independent and very formida-
ble were they united under one chief; but they
are entirely a predatory people, divided into many
different and hostile tribes ; and want that spirit
of unity necessary to make their power effectual.
The Cabardians are the most powerful race, and
their superiority has introduced a general imita-
tion of their manners among their neighbours, so
that from a description of these, an idea may be
formed of all the rest. They are divided into
three classes, the princes, the usdens, or nobles
and the vassals, or people. The people are divi-
ded into certain portions, who are each governed by
a princely family; the eldest of whom is considered
as chief, and the judge, protector, and father of
the vassals. His person is sacred ; but he cannot
be a landholder. His property is nothing more
than his arms, horses, slaves, and what tribute
be c*mr occasion*,.y tract from foreign powers,
it -UOI af xc2xbb*>3 _*;j- are with difficulty distin-
guished from their subjects, their dress and food
being the same, and their houses little better. The
usdens are chosen by the princes from among the
the people ; and are their officers, the executors
of the law, the ministers of the legislature. Both
the usdens and the people are proprietors of land.
There does not appear to be any written law :
the people are governed by a kind of common law,
founded on a collection of ancient usages. They
have a few manufactures; and their tillage pro-
duces scarcely sufficient for their own subsistence.
The principal articles of commerce are sheep and
horses, particularly the latter, which sell at a high
price, being much erteemed. The balance of
trade would, however, be considerably against
them, were it not for the slaves they make in
their predatory excursions. They have no mo-
ney, and all their commerce is carried on by ex
change. They almost universally subsist by rob-
bery,being trained to itfrom their very cradle. This
disposition naturally produces a bold adventurous
spirit: they are expert horsemen, and able war-
riors, being in general stout and well made
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The.;r woman are famed for their beauty; and
chiefly supply the seraglios of Persia and Turkey.
Those that are thus sold are, however, chiefly
slaves, or their descendants. They sell from 20Z.
to 100Z. according to their beauty. The women
participate in the general character of the nation,
taking pride in the courage of their husbands, and
loading them with reproaches when defeated.
They are kept extremely close ; and the greatest
reserve subsists between the married pairs. Their
habitations are usually two huts, one for the hus-
band, and the reception of strangers; and the other
for the wife and family. The Circassians were
formerly Christians; but, for w7ant of instruction
and written laws, they content themselves with a
bare profession of being Christians or Mahome-
tans. They have no letters of their own ; and
those who wish to write their language are obliged
to make use of Arabian characters. f
Circleville, ph. Pickaway Co. Ohio on the Scioto
An ancient Indian fortress of a circular shape
at this spot gave name to the towin. Pop. 1,136
Cirencester, commonly called Cicitcr, a borongh
in Gloucestershire, Eng. The ruins ofthe winlls
are yet visible; it had also a castle and an abbey,
and here three Roman roads, the Foss, Irmin, and
Icknild, crossed each other. It is one of the greatest
marts in the country for wc j1 ; and has a manufac-
ture of curriers knives, highly valued, and two pub-
lic breweries; the church is a very stately edi-
fice . It is seated on the banks of the little river
Churn, 18 m. S. E. of Gloucester, and 89 W. of | |
