THE BYSTRAIA RIVER 



169 



the west. After crossing a wood of high poplars we 

 found ourselves, at about five p.m., on the banks of 

 the Bystraia, opposite Ganal, and encamped on marshy 

 crround amono- the willow bushes which hung over 



A FORD OX THE BYSTRAIA RIVER. 



the stream, carefully avoiding closer proximity to 

 the inhabitants and the " village green " praised by 

 Dr. Guillemard. The hamlet is situated at an alti- 

 tude of about eight hundred feet above sea-level, and, 

 though somewhat larger than Natchiki, could hardly 

 boast of its size, for the population consisted of eighty 



