118 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



rich and busy, it was only after a protracted 

 search and a liberal promise of reward, that we 

 managed to collect a few moist and indigestible 

 dampers made from rye and sand in equal 

 proportions, apparently relics of the villagers' 

 early breakfasts. 



At Latali we saw the first instances of 

 Sfoitre which we had met with in the Caucasus, 

 though from that date until we left the course 

 of the Ingour the occurrence of this hideous 

 malady was not infrequent. The natives 

 ascribe the disease to the evil effects of snow 

 and snow water, partaken of too freely by the 

 hot and thirsty amongst the mountains. 



From Latali to Betcho there was little 

 to vary the monotony of our route. Of course 

 we had another chain of hills to ascend and 

 descend, but by this time, except as an excuse 

 for five minutes' breathing space, we rarely 

 stopped to admire the view. 



We had got rid of all the troubles of 



