240 CASUALS IN THE CAUCASUS 



the rising sun caught the ghttering snows of Elbruz, 

 outhning the frosty heights against a softly luminous 

 sky, and out of the waste of shadowy desolation a 

 rampart line of "star-neighbouring summits " curved 

 east and west in serried companies. 



As we gazed and gazed on the splendid scene, the 

 jealous low-hanging clouds covered the high peaks. 



Elbruz is the Russian name, Minghi-Tau, White 

 Mountain, by which the Titan of the Caucasus is known 

 to the older natives, is Turkish. Not always in his 

 nomenclature does the Muscovite " better what is 

 done." Minghi-Tau is a much more beautiful descrip- 

 tion than harsh-sounding Elbruz. 



The mountain has a mysterious summit guardian in 

 the shape of a Chantecler quite d la Rostand, a gigantic 

 bird of wondrous plumage, who crows triumphantly as 

 the dawn breaks, " My Sunrise ! " flapping his wings 

 the while to scare away all intruders. 



This strident-voiced cock looms large in the folk- 

 lore of the Caucasus, save that he does not in every 

 region salute the sunrise only. There is a brazen- 

 throated specimen who crows throughout the midnight 

 hours at certain seasons, the Tatar Bairam for one, 

 when every evil spirit is powerless, and hides away in 

 the thorn brakes, low to earth, afraid. 



There is nothing new under the sun, even in far 

 Caucasia. Did not the Immortal One tell us of this 

 bird of dawning, which " singeth all night long ? " 



"And then they say no spirit stirs abroad, 

 The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, 

 No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm." 



