SPORT OF SORTS WITH THE PRINCE 283 



Everywhere in the low grounds outside the forest 

 area, and all up the slopes of the hills, troops of young 

 half-wild ponies roamed, disturbers of the peace, 

 although Keebeet said that ibex, like deer, have no 

 fear of noises or figures to which they are well accus- 

 tomed. This is as may be. 



Curious that such great uncontrolled herds do not 

 travel far afield and lose themselves altogether. 

 There was no fence to prevent their roaming — it 

 would need to be a lengthy one ! — no corral into 

 which they were ever rounded up. The Prince said 

 that with them free horses become attached to 

 a certain locality, and do not leave it. They 

 were all of the spidery type, although Karbarda is 

 said to raise the best horses in the Caucasus. From 

 the appearance of the representative specimens we saw 

 in the region, I should say that Karbardan stock-getters 

 are living on the reputation of a reputation. 



The great environing nullahs or ravines were on too 

 large a scale for successful beating. The drive was 

 foredoomed to failure, as anyone with any knowledge 

 of the lie of land could divine, and turned out the most 

 complete farce. 



On every side was a wonderful vista of the ever- 

 lasting snow-fields, with frozen Niagaras descending 

 to the valleys, and as the sun glinted on the 

 cataracts of ice they took on a beryl-like ghttering 

 blue which seemed to dull the brightness of the sky 

 itself, and put its glory out. 



Keebeet placed me at last at the mouth of a cavern- 

 ous pass, about a hundred yards across, with gaunt 



