218 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



called, I think, Totan, where bears were said 

 to be so numerous as to seriously threaten the 

 entire destruction of the maize crops. 



The old settler, who was most heart- 

 broken about his farm, had unluckily nearly 

 blown his eye out in attempting to guard his 

 property, his gun having burst in his hands 

 when firing at a bear. His whole face was 

 horribly mangled, but beyond an application 

 of bears' grease he did nothing to his wounds. 



In our character of sportsmen anxious to 

 slay those ' who wrought him such annoy ' the 

 old man gave us a very hearty welcome, and 

 for the night stopped the working of his bells, 

 clappers, the mouths of his two sons, and all 

 other musical instruments about the place. 



Unluckily the rain kept on, the sky was 

 covered with clouds, there was no moon, and 

 altogether we should have had to be very close 

 indeed to hit a bear that night. But as the 

 old fellow evidently thought our courage was 



