360 TEAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



one of the neighbouring rooms, and there found S 

 surrounded by a bevy of damsels, with whom he had 

 already succeeded in establishing friendly relations. 

 Conversation was of course somewhat limited, as we 

 had no interpreter, and were obliged to convey our 

 sentiments of admiration and respect by the most 

 expressive signs which occurred to us. The young 

 ladies, however, did not depend upon our conver- 

 sational powers for their amusement. They were 

 quite satisfied with staring at us in amazement, and 

 giggling among themselves, while we found food for 

 .contemplation in speculating whether their remarks 

 were likely to be complimentary or not. Gradually, 

 as they found we were quite tame, the group in- 

 creased ; one damsel after another crept in, and 

 squatted upon her heels round the little konak 

 and one bolder than the rest offered us a quantity 

 of roasted chestnuts, which we skinned and handed 

 to one another with profound civility. At last the 

 group became so noisy that the sounds of merriment 

 reached the ears of the rest of our party> who did not 

 linger over their flesh-pots under such inviting circum- 

 stances. Soon the room was crammed full of English- 

 men and Circassian girls, the male portion of the 

 native community being collected at the door, and 

 manifesting the most intense interest and amusement 



in our proceedings. Then, by means of L , we 



held a little conversation, but they became shy again 

 under so formal a ceremony as interpretation, and 



