 The Abzakhs are not to be confused with the Abkhazians or the Abaza, who are not Circassians, but speak closely related North Caucasian languages.Before the Caucasian War, Abzakhs inhabited the northern slope of the Caucasus mountain range, near the land of the Shapsug tribe.Major settlements or villages were located in the river valleys Kurdzhips, Psheha, Pshish, and Psekups.