the Caucasus, the period from 1808 to 1812 being especially bad.^8
In addition to all the other problems caused by the plague, communi-
cations—including the transportation of supplies and reinforcements-
were interrupted by periodic quarantines.
The ravages of war and disease, and the simple fact that there was
a Russian military presence in the Caucasus, disrupted the region's
economy. The economic problems not only added to the troubles
of the native inhabitants but also made it impossible for the Russians
to fulfill the expansionists' optimistic prediction that a large part of
the cost of taking and governing the eastern Caucasus could be fi-
nanced by local revenues. The sudden increase in Russian spending
connected with the administration of Georgia and military needs pro-
duced rapid inflation in the cost of food and other essentials but not
a rise in incomes. In addition, Russia's currency was in a disadvanta-
geous position. Through Russian purchases, the silver rubles passed
into general circulation, where the exchange rate with local coinage
was about one-sixth below what Russian authorities had expected.
Much of the coinage passed out of circulation altogether through
trade between local and foreign merchants and melting down for
use by local silversmiths. At the same time, the various natural and
war-related disasters produced a sharp decline in the region's econo-
my. Taxes (from areas under direct rule) and tribute (from vassal
states) fell into arrears. Since Russia was at war in other quarters
from 1805 on, the government was unwilling to increase the alloca-
tion of funds for the Caucasus. As a result, the Russian comman-
ders-in-chief in the Caucasus had to reduce the scale of their opera-
tions to keep within the limits of their revenues. An important part
of the revenue was in kind, primarily foodstuffs, rather than in cash,
and had been expected to fill the Russians' needs for provisions.
However, food was scarce for most of the war era, and there was a
serious famine in 1811. Many of the rubles that were supposed to
pay for the war against Iran and the administration of the newly con-
quered provinces went instead to buy food and rent ox carts to trans-
port it.^9
Even apart from the shortages of essential supplies, the quality of
the Russian army in the Caucasus was substandard. Although daring
and ambitious men were able to win recognition for their deeds in
this theater of war, the whole mountain region was generally regarded
as one of the less prestigious places in which to serve. Assignment to
the Caucasus was commonly used as punishment for some major dis-
grace, such as dueling, or for generally inadequate performance. The
Caucasus long remained a dumping ground for those out of favor
104 The War, 1804-1813