31 8 Account of a Journey to Choj in Perfia. 



manner thronc;h the fnow mountains, as the road between the 

 mountains is covered with fnow, and the travellers are obliged 

 to pafs over ridges and eminences which are practicable only 

 for perfons on horfeback or on toot. Along this road the high 

 rocky mountains rife in pyramidal forms, and like two walls 

 of rock on each fide ; the valley, wliich forms a pallaae betweeii 

 them, where broadcli may be about 300 yards. The people 

 w ho inhabit the country in the neighbourhood of this road, 

 in the mountains, and fomctimcs on the river Terek, where 

 the filualion of the mountains will admit .of it, are called 

 Offi or OO'ctincs. Tiic former name was knovyn in antient 

 times, and is ftill ufed among the people themfelvcs, but by 

 the Ruffians they are called Ofletinzy. Their language has 

 iip affinity to any of the Afialic dialefts but the Terfian. 

 Thofe who live to the north are flill pagans, and worlhip 

 dogs, cats, and yarious other animals which have been ftruck 

 by lightning. Their habitations are all like fortrefles, antV 

 furrounded by antique round towers, 8cc. 



On the i8lh we arrived at the fnow mountains, after 

 being attacked nt a narrow pafs on our way by the above- 

 mentioned Ofietincs. The pretended caufe was, that they 

 demanded toll from us ; but, as it had been fettled by al! 

 the princes refiding among the mountains, that every thing 

 belonging to Ruffia fliould be fuffcred to pafs free, our conj- 

 mander would not comply with their demand, nor pay them 

 a fingle farthing. When the Ofietincs found that they could 

 obtain nothino-, they began to roll down on us allonifhing 

 large maflts of rock; and they difcharged alfo their fu'e-arms, 

 but without doing us any hurt. Our ambaflador, ho\yever, 

 was fo incenfed, That he commanded 60 of the chaffeurs and 

 3 50 of the CoQacs, who formed our efcort, to march againft 

 them ; but they could not reach them but by a circuitous 

 route of about forty werfcs. When the Olfetines faw that 

 this party were going round to attack them in the rear, they 

 folicitcd forgivenefs, and fuffered us to pafs unmolcfled. 



On the iglh we continued to afcend the fnow mountains, 

 where we were much afloniflied at the fudden change of the 

 climate. Hitherto the weather had been temperate, and we 

 had enjoyed the moft beautiful views, highly pittnrefque on 

 account of the different colours of the rocks, which in many 

 places were ornamented with a fort of cryliallized figures. In 

 the month of March, Caucafus mud be a real paradife; for 

 the cyprcfs-like juniper trees, the cheflnut, and other beautiful 

 trees, are every where found mixed in the moft agreeable 

 manner. Travelling, however, through the fnow mountains 

 v.as not fo pleafant. Where we croffcd them they coufiftcd 



of 



