114 CASUALS IN THE CAUCASUS 



and bade us not seek too high lest we topple over to 

 a tragic fall like Lucifer ; counselled, too, the shunning 

 of the impossible, for fear that we fail to form a just 

 estimate of our own powers ; told us that we could 

 not jump to heights, but we might cHmb nearer. 



Now we struck a rough cart track, whereon travelled 

 itinerant Tatars, conveying goods on pack-horses to 

 far-away comers of the mountains. The Tatar is the 

 Carter Paterson of the Caucasus. 



Each wayfarer had to stop and chat with Ali, from 

 which conversation our man was only dragged with 

 difficulty. 



Turgenieff told us of the loquacity of Russians. It 

 pales into insignificance before the unending stream of 

 talk which flows from every Caucasian native. 



Perhaps the constant delay irked us the more 

 because we ourselves were out of the interest of the 

 word-bandying, which went on in Tatar. When we 

 expressed our sense of deprivation, Ali Ghirik said that 

 upon the next occasion he would translate for us all 

 that passed, which he did in the following handsome 

 manner. 



"Aleikum ! " The salutation most in favour with 

 True BeHevers. 



" Who are these strangers with you ? Are they men 

 or women ? " 



" That I know not. Sometimes I think the one, 

 sometimes the other. Anyhow " — pointing to Kenneth, 

 and all unconsciously quoting our Greatest^ — " God 

 made him, therefore let him pass for a man. They are 

 travellers, travelling I know not why." 



