TIFLIS. 203 



An hour's ride, straining our eyes in a vain 

 endeavour to catch a first glimpse of the antelopes, 

 whose home we were invading, brought us to a 

 canal with a bridge and toll-house or something 

 of that nature; and the bridge once crossed, the 

 clamour of a dozen curs and the appearance of 

 several Tartars advised us of our arrival at our 

 journey's end. The planter himself came to meet 

 us a young fellow speaking many languages as 

 well as his own, a mere boy amongst the worst- 

 looking gang of labourers man ever put eyes upon, 

 yet managing them fairly well, and making his 

 venture pay. His home was a mere hut, utterly 

 destitute of any of the comforts or refinements of 

 that civilisation to which he had apparently been 

 brought up ; and it would indeed need to be a 

 lucrative venture which should tempt a man to 

 lead the life our friend Adolphe led. He had been 

 made a magistrate by the Tiflis Government, with 

 exceptional powers and privileges ; but, as he him- 

 self told us, he was a magistrate merely in name, 

 unable to carry out any measure he might deem 

 necessary, utterly powerless to punish or bring to 

 punishment, and so used to the evils by which he 

 was surrounded as to have grown perfectly callous 

 to them. Murder, horse- stealing, and every other 

 crime are of almost daily occurrence. However 

 openly committed, it is impossible to convict, as 

 none dare witness against the perpetrators of the 



