The Caucasian Mountains and their Inhabitants. 113 



the ground, the floor nature had kindly provided for 

 them, the fire was built. To economize heat, there was 

 no chimney to this primitive saloon, the smoke, conse- 

 quently, was equally economized. The cooking utensils 

 consisted of a single kettle, and in this there was being 

 cooked the only article of food in the dwelling — a dish 

 of beans. There was no bedding; the people did as we 

 did — wrapped themselves in what clothing they pos- 

 sessed, and lay down on the broad wooden divans or 

 benches which ran along two sides of the apartment. 



Two women and two children graced this wretched 

 shelter. We were hospitably received by the former, 

 though a certain amount of diffidence characterized their 

 movements, for they seemed to feel conscious of the 

 poverty of their attire. Each wore a long blue cotton 

 gown and a scarf or handkerchief about the head ; but 

 the lack of a gay or costly garb could not eclipse the glory 

 of inimitable beauty or faultless forms. The face of the 

 mother of the children was almost divine. No sculptor 

 could have done it justice, and only some inspired painter 

 could have reached the height of its calm, its classic, its 

 chaste perfections. Her brows were beautifully arched ; 

 her eyes were large, seemingly deep blue, full of sad 

 eloquence and tears. She raised her hand and her finely 

 chiseled arm was revealed ; for there fell back from it a 

 wide open sleeve, which she took, and with it — will you 

 pardon me for stating a very simple fact ? — wiped her 

 nose. But I have not said what I particularly wished to 

 in regard to this visit. In the morning, before our de- 

 parture, the poor mother offered me her eldest child, a 

 kind, gentle girl, some ten or twelve years of age, saying 

 to me through the Georgian Colonel Cargonoff, who was 

 my companion, friend and interpreter, " Take her I pray 

 you, for I love her dearly, and the more I love my child- 

 ren the more anxious I am that they should fall into the 



[Trans, vi.'] 15 



