TO THE HUNTING GROUNDS 83 



fashion of the White Knight in " AHce through the 

 Looking-Glass," we set forth one early morning, taking a 

 circuitous route by which we should avoid the post 

 road, a busy trading channel to the Kakheti valley, 

 from whence the great fourgons laden with the cele- 

 brated wine would be constantly passing, and raising 

 more of the terrible dust which had already bothered 

 us to endure with equanimit}' . 



Kenneth had rigged himself up in complete Caucasian 

 kit, because he had read somewhere what a comfort- 

 able tourist outfit it makes. He looked a frightful 

 sight, mostly because his waist was so thick round. 

 The natives are very slim, and possess most graceful 

 figures. By the side of Ali Ghirik my warrior cousin 

 looked like a caricature of anti-fat variety, in which 

 he illustrated the " before taking," and our servant 

 the " after." They both looked ready for any emer- 

 gency. In addition to a kinjal and another weapon 

 of similar pattern, Ali had a tremendous flint-lock 

 strung on a leather thong across his back. We thought 

 it useless as a firearm, but extremely beaatiful as a 

 relic. It was of considerable age, with a stock inlaid 

 in a fine design of gold and silver, and a Damascus 

 barrel of best silver steel inset with a scroll design of 

 gold. 



Kenneth had a kinjal, too, which he found greatly in 

 his way. At last, after sitting on the thing, and hurting 

 himself badly, this part of the local colour was con- 

 signed to the depths of a saddle-bag as too cumbrous 

 fox anything. 



The weapon being worn in front, with the handle 



