120 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



whose absence had made the town behind 

 us seem so deserted. Half a dozen thnes we 

 came upon little parties of peasant women 

 gomg back in the gloaming to the village, 

 and so timid were they that, though our 

 guides called to them by name and assured 

 them of our harmlessness, they bounded like 

 wild things down the hillside as soon as they 

 caught sight of us, and did not even stay to 

 stand and gaze before they had put a very 

 considerable start between themselves and the 

 strangers. 



Just now the forests and mountains 

 seemed more full of people than the village 

 streets, for every one who can work is afield 

 during the short summer months, unless they 

 would with their families starve during the 

 nme months' winter. When we passed 

 through the district it was the season of 

 barley harvest, and m every clearmg were 

 bevies of girls at work with the reaping hookj 



