ILLUSIVE DREAMS. 63 



mention that about the middle of dinner 



Prince A dropped in to say that owing 



to some unforeseen circumstance the proposed 

 venue of the hunt would be changed to a 

 forest nearer home, for which reason it would 

 not be necessary to start before early morn- 

 ing on the next day. This was postponement 

 number two. 



We thought we had escaped our friends 

 when we reached the shelter of our hotel, but 

 little did we know when we ventured to 

 indulge in such illusive dreams the hospitality 

 of the Caucasian heart, or its rooted aversion 

 to sobriety in a guest. I state a mere fact 

 when I say that not to make a man drunk 

 when he is your guest is looked upon m the 

 Caucasus as a breach of hospitality — a distinct 

 failure in that cordial entertainment for which 

 the country is famed. A Georgian of Radcha, 

 whom I knew well, once said to me in talking 

 of the matter, ' What are we to do ? we have 



