More About Abkhazia (Excerpt from a letter to A.P. Berge), by K. Chernyshev (1854)
This article, originally written by K. Chernyshev and addressed to A.P. Berge, provides a detailed account of Abkhazia's geography, social structure, and customs, as observed during the author’s year-long stay in the region. In addition to his impressions of Abkhazian social life, Chernyshev interprets certain issues, such as the role of women and religious beliefs, sometimes according to his own understanding. Although his comments are coloured by personal prejudices and sometimes lack of information, the article provides invaluable historical and ethnographic insights into 19th-century Abkhazia, offering a rare glimpse into its complex social structures and cultural practices.
The article was first published in Newspaper Kavkaz (Кавказ (газета)) in October 1854, issues No. 81, 82, and 83, and has been translated into English by AbkhazWorld.
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