318 TKAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



advanced to offer us horses on which to ride np to 

 Prince Michael's ; and while they were getting ready 

 we sat down in chairs of a civilised construction at 

 the edge of the cliff, and became the centre of a 

 group of admiring Abkhazians. 



At length a number of diminutive but wiry ponies 

 made their appearance, with slippery, impossible-look- 

 ing saddles, upon which, we perched ourselves with 

 difficulty. It requires a short residence in Circassia 

 before one becomes thoroughly reconciled to the seat 

 of the country. The saddle-bow is about six inches 

 high, and terminates in a sharp point. There is a 

 corresponding elevation similarly shaped behind, so 

 that one has very much the sensation of being 

 jammed down between two perpendicular hunting- 

 knives. As the stirrups are so short as to throw the 

 knees considerably above the withers of the horse, 

 there is a natural tendency to rise in them ; and when 

 one is thus thrown above the saddle, an anxiety sug- 

 gests itself about getting safe back again. However, 

 we were in an impatient humour, and, reckless of 

 consequences, dashed off at a gallop with our knees 

 up to our chins, and our arms extended to assist 

 in preserving our balance. 



We did not visit Bambor, as there was nothing to 

 distinguish it from the other forts on the coast ; nor 

 had we time for a diversion to the ruined castles of 

 Anakopi or Psirste, distant four or five miles to 

 the right. After crossing the undulating plain of 



