DIFFICULTIES WITH MY STAFF. 239 



consuming no little of Platon's tobacco, while 

 from time to time the vivid sheet-lightning 

 gave lis quaint glimpses of the interior of 

 which we were the centre. 



Luckily for us, our little tent weathered 

 the storm, and towards mornino' we orot an 

 hour or two for sleep, after which I had to go 

 through the usual difficulties with my men 

 before making a new start. First they did 

 not want to go mto Svanetia at all, then they 

 must be prepaid, and as I would not agree to 

 that suicidal arrangement, the money must be 

 paid over to Platon in their presence, to be 

 held for them until the end of their engage- 

 ment. Then they must go back to Gebi for 

 more provisions, to say good-bye to their 

 wives, to make arrangements for the tending 

 of their cattle, to get more horses, and finally 

 they urged that the country was impractic- 

 able for horses, and they must go back for 

 more bearers. But as I made no concessions 



