126 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



well, and could not give us an audience until 

 next day. 



For a couple of hours Platon had been 

 away foraging for food and firewood, and 

 though between us we did manage to get up 

 a fire, no food could be obtained for love or 

 money. In despair we were contemplating 

 a supperless retirement to bed when notice 

 reached us of an improvement m the prince's 

 health and a request that we would waive 

 ceremony, excuse his calling on us, and come 

 over to his house to see him. Nothing loth 

 we put on our best clothes {i.e. changed our 

 mocassins for boots, and washed our faces), 

 and walked over to the balcony, where we 

 found our host ready to receive us. All round 

 him and in his courtyard thronged about 

 a hundred of the most unsafe-looking savages 

 eyes ever beheld. No fear of royalty kept 

 their tongues from wagging freely, nor any 

 sense of decency restrained their hands from 



