3o8 CASUALS IN THE CAUCASUS 



midons yielded up two or three more Karbardan 

 gems. 



" Do not fear war and trouble, for that is the season 

 when the harvest of hypocrites is gathered in." 



" He who is fond of eating guano should always carry 

 a long spoon with him." 



What a worldly-wise proverb for the back of beyond ! 

 Is it clear, even to wild Karbarda, that the guano-eater 

 is catered for everywhere ? 



" Hawks are safe from hawks," is, of course, an 

 indifferent version of our own " Hawks winna pick 

 out hawks een." 



" Owls fly late " — but that's a purely Tatar proverb. 



Sometimes o' nights around the camp-fire the wild 

 henchmen would chant in unison as they warmed their 

 hands by the blazing logs, and we would bid Keebeet 

 listen and take notes. The dreary lay was always 

 something melancholy, in keeping with the wailing 

 voices. Someone had died miserably ; a storm had 

 devastated Karbarda and nobody was left alive ; the 

 crops had failed ; a snow - slide had engulfed the 

 village, entombing all ; the wolves were out, tearing, 

 despoihng ; famine and misery stalked the land. 



Oh, dear me ! what distressing types of national songs, 

 reflecting nothing but tragedy, the tragedy of truth, 

 no doubt. Better the counterfeit efforts at hilarity 

 peculiar to the Russian peasants in the wine-shops, 

 whose songs are always of superabundant vodka and 

 unworthy wives. 



But — the cricket is not the nightingale. Why tell 

 him so ? 



