74 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



There were two rooms at the back of the 

 balcony, one (the front one) used generally 

 for the whole needs of the priest, his friends, 

 and his family, and the other, a little den into 

 which we did not penetrate. In the big room 

 a row of boards on trestles, covered with 

 rough matting and a patch- work feather mat- 

 tress of great antiquity and doubtful cleanli- 

 ness, offered repose to all and sundr3\ 



At the farther end of the room was an 

 open stove where all the cooking was done, 

 and to the right of it a small cupboard in 

 which the priest kept all his treasures and the 

 insignia of his office, i.e., a book of services 

 and a Bible, two tumblers and a teapot, a pen 

 and ink and a pipe. We soon had the teapot 

 and the tumblers out, and as we still had a 

 little tea left, we invited the Rector and his 

 wife to partake with us. Of course the lady 

 refused, and the priest himself only agreed to 

 take what we left ; but meanwhile he and his 



