mNERALS. 141 



fallen before our arrival, and vast quantities of 

 larkspur and blue gentian. Wherever there 

 was room for it on the lower slopes of the hills, 

 a plant with huge hollow stems and broad 

 leaves [Angelica officinalis) blocked the way and 

 poured its gathered dewdrops down our necks, 

 while higher up rhododendron thickets and 

 bilberries had the ground to themselves. Of 

 ferns we saw very few, the commonest being 

 trichomanes. 



In variety of minerals Svanetia is rich, 

 though none of the mines would pa}^ for the 

 working, they saj^ The ordinary rocks are 

 argillaceous schist, but granite occurs in places. 

 Copper is found near Betcho ; a little silver 

 and lead is distributed all over the district ; 

 near Ushkiil there is a small quantity of tin 

 and a considerable amount of serpentine and 

 porphyry. Gold is said to be found in the 

 mountains between Mulach and Ushkul, and 

 also by the course of the Ingour below 



