IMMIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT OF ABHASIANS IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE ON BRITISH DOCUMENTS, 1864-67

While the Circassian struggle against the Russians was continuing in Iate 1863 and early 1864 the Russians widely believed that the Prince of Abhasia was secretly supplying some ammunition to the fighting mountaineers1• The Russians had restricted their military operations only against the certain tribes in the Caucasus mainly those of the Circassians in the years of 1863 and 1864. No mi1itary operation was directed against the Abhasians, and the Russians with all their power were concentrating only on the defeat and expulsion of the Circassians from their country. Following the absolute defeat, the Circassian tribes were forced to assemble on the shores one after anotherz. The Russians thereafter began to disturb the Abhasians. By this policy, the former did not fight against the Circassians and Abhasians at the same time, because to Russia fighting against the se two group s did not seem more advantageous in terms of Russian interests. The number of Abhasians, in addition to that of Circassians roughly 300-400 thousand was considerable computed at 60 thousand inc1uding these in the principally Muslim districts of Cebelda and Samurzakhan3• In Apri11864, the Russians sent the Prince of Abhasia, Shervashidze, an invitation of the Russian government to retire from his stronghold on Turkey as in the case of Circassians. They blackmailed the Prince by a threat that