PITCHIXCt our tent. 199 



few canary coloured crocuses which grew 

 there remained a mystery. 



Below us lay ranges of low rocky hills, 

 covered with rhododendron scrub and a 

 scattered wood of birches. Two or three 

 small rivers met in the valleys below, and 

 opposite to our great grass fells were the 

 glaciers and peaks of Lapur, Yedenna, and 

 Passimta, whence issues the infant Rion. 



In the valley at the foot of Lapur we 

 pitched our tent and listened to Simon's 

 account of the wild doings of Svanetians and 

 the men of Radcha on this border-land ten 

 years ago. Even now the capital goat 

 pastures and sheep runs of Lapur are seldom 

 used, for over the glacier of Matchkapar is a 

 pathway risky to cross and uninviting to look 

 at, over which even in the present days of peace 

 the roving men of Svanetia and the Tartars 

 from the other side the range not unfrequently 

 steal down upon the unsuspecting shepherds 

 of Gebi. 



