40 CASUALS IN THE CAUCASUS 



us to the plains. Presently we emerged on the old 

 town of Mtsket, sentinel to the Kura valley. 



The muddy reaches of the river came in view again, 

 " a considerable stream," as the American said of his 

 Niagara. A boom of logs floated past us, but the 

 loggers did not come down the river on the shining 

 boles, as is the custom in America, but prodded and 

 pushed the massive stems into rushing channels by 

 means of hooked poles from the shore. They were 

 dressed like our' Prince — these log steerers — save for 

 the silver adornments. Their huge hats were of the 

 ubiquitous sheepskin, very long in the fur. Later I 

 discovered the advantages of the colossal proportions 

 of the popular headgear. It is a veritable portmanteau 

 to its wearer, and in its vasty recesses a traveller often 

 carries his entire necessaire de voyage. 



