160 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



' daping.' However, I was as unlucky here as 

 elsewhere in the Caucasus, never having seen 

 a trout rise during the whole of my autumn 

 campaign. 



As we strolled up from the river Gebi 

 presented a different aspect from that which 

 it wore a week ago. Then all the streets were 

 still, all the houses empty save for a few old 

 crones long past the possibility of work. Now 

 at every street corner men less ragged than 

 usual were loafing, laughing and smoking, 

 while troops of women in bright coloured 

 garments and gaudy turbans were sitting 

 on the house ladders, or hurried chattering 

 through the town. But in spite of all the 

 merry making, Simon the hunter was waiting 

 for us when we/got home, to tell us that if we 

 would engage a half- starved looking creature, 

 whom he called nephew, as horseboy, the said 

 nephew would act as interpreter for us, and 

 have horses ready for a start that night. 



