378 TKAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



of interest to the parties concerned, were very tire- 

 some to us, whose only object was to push on without 

 losing any unnecessary time. We crossed over a low 

 range a little before nightfall, passing a large and 

 populous village charmingly situated, and looked out 

 for quarters among the numerous JconaJts with which 

 the valley we had now entered was dotted. For the 

 first time Ave applied in vain ; the family informed us 

 that, the master of the house being aAvay, we could 

 not be allowed admittance. We somewhat ques- 

 tioned the truth of this excuse, but had no alterna- 

 tive but to prosecute our search for some more 

 friendly householder. 



At last we reached a village where the inhabitants 

 gladly placed two little cottages at our disposal, and 

 where we were permitted to dine off turkeys instead 

 of sheep. After dinner, a rough-looking Circassian 

 came into our konak, and informed us that he was 

 anxious to enter into the service of a European. He 

 was a native of Abbasack, and had fought against 

 the Russians ; he had also been the pilgrimage to 

 Mecca, and picked up a smattering of Turkish. 

 Altogether, though wild and uncouth in appearance, 

 there was something so amiable and prepossessing in 

 his face, that I at once offered to engage him and his 

 horse at the monthly stipend of thirty shillings. 

 Salary, however, was evidently " no consideration " 

 with my friend Hadji Mustapha, who only desired 

 the novelty of the employment with a European, 



