ACCUSTOMING THE WORKMEN TO STONE HOUSES. 283 



killed, is very tender and savoury; it always forms 

 the basis of Tartar and Georgian meals, or what we 

 should call in our dinners the "piece de resistance" . 



Precisely in the same way as the underground 

 abodes of princes the large underground stables are 

 constructed in the Caucasus. I had already made 

 their acquaintance during the journey at one of the 

 post -stations, where I was reminded by the neighing 

 and trampling of horses that I was walking over a 

 stable. The coolness of the underground habitations 

 in summer and their warmth in winter is extolled, 

 and it has cost the directors of the smelting-works in 

 Kedabeg much trouble to accustom the Asiatic workmen 

 to stone houses. When this at last succeeded with 

 the help of the women, the difficult workman's question 

 was therewith solved. For as the people there have 

 only very few wants there is no reason for their doing 

 much work. When they have earned sufficient money 

 to secure their maintenance for a few weeks they 

 cease to work and take their ease. To cope with 

 this there was only one resource, viz. to accustom the 

 people to needs, the satisfaction of which could only 

 be attained by continuous labour. The handle was 

 afforded by the natural inclination of the female sex 

 for a pleasant family-life and their easily awakened 

 vanity and love of dress. When a few simple workmen's 

 houses had been built, and we had succeeded in 

 quartering therein a few couples, the women soon 

 found pleasure in the greater convenience and comfort 

 of the dwellings. The men also found it an advantage 



