TI1AVELS IN CIRCASSIA. 373 



but though wrapt in amazement at our appearance, 

 he did not allow his feelings of astonishment to get 

 the Letter of his hospitality. He at once commenced 

 the most active preparations for our comfort ; and 

 though he evidently was not so Avell off as our former 

 host, he seemed determined to make up by activity 



for his want of means. We ventured, despite L 's 



remonstrances to the effect that we should only give 

 offence, to hint our ravenous condition, and to express 

 a wish that the ceremony of the sheep should be dis- 

 pensed with for once, and that we should be supplied 

 with a turkey, or something less sumptuous, but more 

 rapidly prepared. Our host received this intimation 

 with a somewhat dissatisfied expression of counte- 

 nance, and left the room Avithout deigning a remark. 

 A few minutes after he returned, and, with a grin 

 of triumph, informed us that, in revenge for the seri- 

 ous reflection we had cast upon his hospitality, he 

 had ordered a bullock, instead of a sheep, to be 

 killed for our benefit. It was already nearly eight 

 o'clock, and we had had nothing to eat since break- 

 fast, and during the interval had been sustaining 

 almost without intermission the most severe exercise. 

 This announcement, then, was received with a mur- 

 mur of profound despair, and we flung ourselves in 

 our quilts in a state of sullen discontent. It Avas no 

 consolation to us to know that our Avretched horses 

 Avere as badly off as ourselves ; for it is the custom 

 in Circassia never even to take the saddle off a horse 



