TRAVELS IX CIRCASSIA. 375 



It was late on the following morning before \ve 

 roused ourselves from the heavy slumbers consequent 

 upon our midnight meal, and we occupied the hour 

 before breakfast in paying our respects to the daughter 

 of our host, a ladylike -looking girl, who sat to Mr 



S for her portrait with great satisfaction. Her 



brother, a stalwart young fellow, who stood near, had 

 not long before been taken prisoner by the Russians. 

 He had, however, managed to shoot the officer on 

 guard, and effected his escape. This was the most 

 unsophisticated family we had met. They had never 

 been out of their native valleys ; neither father nor 

 daughter had ever before seen any Europeans, and 

 they were evidently genuinely anxious to show us 

 kindness and hospitality. As we parted from them, 

 and one of our party recompensed our host for his 

 entertainment of us by a handsome present, the old 

 man embraced the donor with much fervour, and 

 many professions of eternal friendship and regard. 

 The violent rain of the night before had swelled the 

 mountain torrents, always rapid greased the narrow 

 paths, always dangerous and rendered travelling in 

 Circassia, always difficult, almost hopeless. We made 

 up our minds to walk nearly the whole of our day's 

 journey, and found it difficult to keep our footing 

 upon the slippery path, not broader than a Highland 

 sheep-walk, which led along the edge of a hill some 

 eight or nine hundred feet above the brawling stream 

 at its base. Downwards, however, our steps were 

 VOL. VL 2 B 



