BLACK SEA COAST. 89 



The springs run through a white stone which, 

 though extremely hard on the surface, pulverises 

 at the touch the moment the outside layer is 

 removed. I am myself ignorant of geology, but I 

 was assured that this was quartz of a very high 

 quality, and excellently adapted for the manu- 

 facture of glass. If this be so, a glass factory 

 here would, one would imagine, be an extremely 

 remunerative speculation, with any quantity of 

 timber and water-power immediately at hand, 

 and no rival factory nearer than Moscow, espe- 

 cially as glass is in the Caucasus a very dear 

 commodity, bad glass bottles costing from ten to 

 fifteen copecks. In the evening and in the mom- 

 ing we saw the worst side of the village by the 

 springs ; for on both occasions a dense white fog 

 rolled up from the valley high up the hills, com- 

 pletely hiding them from view, while the dew 

 lay on the grass like rain after a very severe 

 thunder shower. 



We left the springs early, and shivered in our 

 saddles as we waded through the rolling fog 

 clouds, although in a few hours' time the heat 

 was quite oppressive. 



I noticed to-day by the wayside a large quantity 

 of mistletoe, and have since remarked that its abun- 

 dance is not restricted to this one part of the Cau- 

 casus. The insects by the wayside were ' hyale,' 

 clouded yellow, red admirals, painted Indies, and 



