IN THE LAND OF THE BORA. 233 



gorges, forests, and precipices of the highlands 

 remain a sealed hook to him. Whilst on the 

 subject of the Velez, I may take the opportunity 

 of saying that on the Mostar side it slopes, not 

 very steeply, from its upper ridges to the tableland 

 of Podvelez, from which again a steeper slope forms 

 the actual valley of the river — a very different 

 formation, as will be seen, from its eastern side. 



After a long-continued spell of bad weather, 

 we left Mostar on a day which, though dull and 

 threatening, just held out the faint promise that 

 it might hold up, and drove past Mirichan to 

 Potocihan, a couple of miles further on. Here 

 our steeds were awaiting us. My wife's saddle — 

 a cross one, for we had been ridiculously mis- 

 informed that the hill paths were so narrow as to 

 prohibit the use of a side saddle — was soon trans- 

 ferred to a sturdy twelve-hand pony, mine being 

 on a rather larger one, whilst a woe-begone chest- 

 nut was loaded with our luggage. I should have 

 done better to have got out the waterproofs, but 

 standing about in a chilly wind and clouds of dust 

 was anything but pleasant. Our guide thought it 

 would not rain that morning, and as time enough 

 had been lost adjusting our borrowed bridles, etc.,* 



* A saddle, not too large, and bridle, should form part of 

 every traveller's equipment in the Herzegovina. Pack-saddles 

 are useless, as the natives only understand their own, but had 

 I the trip to do over again, I should certainly buy a riding pony 

 for myself. 



