... why the mountain river was named as Shhaguashe or Belaya.

On a high rock above the river there was a castle of a prince Syuk. When his beautiful daughter Shhaguashe became a bride, the prince called young men for a competition and the most dexterous man would become the husband of the girl.

The competitions began, in which dexterity and quickness a young but poor shepherd Abago has shown. Several days the daughter didn't tell about her choice. At last she said that she loved the shepherd most of all. The, prince was angry and he ordered to sew up the daughter and the shepherd into a strong sack and to throw them into the river from the rock. But the river saved them and it has thrown out them on the bank. They found a shelter and lived there.

The years passed and old Syuk felt ill. The wise people said that only deer's milk could help him. The old prince sent the horsemen to all ends. But the first horseman brought him a jug with milk tied with the shawl which he presented his daughter. So the daughter didn't remember about cruelty of her father, returned him health. And grateful mountain people have given the river the name Shhaguashe that means "mistress" or "deers' princess".

There is another variant of Legend of the origin of the name of the river.

After one of attacks on Georgia the adyghean prince Dakho has grasped in captivity a beautiful girl, Bela by name. She hasn't agreed to become his wife and dreamed only about vengeance for the death of her father and murder of native people. With cunning she managed to extract a dagger and then she came to the prince's room. On the question of the prince whether she agreed to become his wife, Bela answered "Yes".

Dakho in an impulse of pleasure tried to embrace the girl, but she snatched out from her dress a dagger and struck it directly in his heart. Killed the thief, Bela jumped up on her horse and sent it to a gate. But she couldn't go far away and soon she was caught by the pursuit on the abrupt breakage of the river. Bella together with horse has rushed in its circulation. Since then the river was named as Belaya.