CREST OF XAKEEALA. 61 



niacliiiies, only to 1>e noticed with a kick, and 

 never tlianked by a caress. 



This little climb from Tkiboole to the 

 crest of Xakerala was the only piece of the 

 road between Oni and Kutais over which a 

 droschky might not safely l3e driven. 



At the top of the ridge the road led to 

 a cleft, throngh which we passed, and as we 

 went we were met ftill in the face by the 

 delicious free breezes which greet you on 

 every summit, while masses of white mist 

 just tinged with sunlight, came rolling through 

 the pass to meet us. In another minute the 

 whole view burst upon us. 



The crest of the ridsre is double, and the 

 path winds through a kind of basin between 

 the two ridges, in which grow dense masses 

 of rhododendron thicket, whence rise here and 

 there, tall and gaum, a few giant pines : one 

 huge white fellow, blasted many a year ag^o, 

 towering high above the rest. The whole 



VOL. I. G 



