SHORTNESS OF MONEY. 167 



purses again at Betcho was a problem not easy 

 I of solution. But my kind friend the agro- 

 nome came to my rescue, and though he had 

 nothing but my own account of myself and 

 my promise of payuient to rely upon, offered 

 unasked to lend me about an eighth of the 

 whole coined wealth then in Betcho. 



Don't be alarmed at my extravagant needs, 

 kind reader! at that moment I don't fancy 

 Betcho could have produced fifty pounds 

 between prince and population combined. 

 You see, as the Sv^ns pay in kind for most 

 of their purchases, money is in little request 

 amongst them, and what the richer residents 

 mis^ht own was safe in the banks at Tiflis 

 and Kutais. 



This is the second time in my travels in 

 the Caucasus tliat, being short of money, I 

 have had considerable sums lent me by men 

 whose acquaintance with me dated back only 

 a few da3^s. I think this says much for tlie 



