TRAVELS IN CIRCASSIA. 323 



insiirmountable. "We were assured that the only 

 practicable pass from Abkhasia across these moun- 

 tains, for horses, was from Souchoum Kaleh to 

 Karachai, a province situate upon the western 

 shoulder of Mount Elbruz. We had indeed at one 

 time entertained the idea of attempting this pass in 

 company with some of the chiefs of Karachai, who 

 were about to return to their homes. As it turned 

 out, however, it was fortunate that circumstances 

 obliged us to change our plans, as a few weeks after- 

 wards our friends returned to Souchoum, having found 

 their province in the hands of the Russians, who had 

 pushed their successes over the Naib, farther into the 

 mountains than they had ever before ventured to do. 

 The people of Karachai, leaving their homes at the 

 mercy of the conquerors, had taken refuge in the 

 more inaccessible parts of the mountains, knowing 

 that the approach of winter would compel the enemy 

 to evacuate the valleys. N~ever before had that re- 

 mote district been visited by Eussian soldiers, and 

 the utmost terror and dismay had been inspired in 

 consequence. 



The pass by which these men had traversed the 

 range will henceforward be blocked up, and the day 

 is in all probability far distant when such an oppor- 

 tunity will again be afforded to Europeans of pene- 

 trating into these mountains. The Russians them- 

 selves are unable to go beyond five or six miles from 

 Souchoum Kaleh into the interior. The journey to 



