SNIPE-SHOOTING. 235 



our guns and ammunition, an accident had 

 more terrors. I frankly confess that I passed 

 a very mauvais quart cVheure, sitting tight in 

 one of these unsteady craft, while the water 

 crept gradually along its inside until I was 

 the centre of a small flood. 



Most of the snipe we shot were young 

 birds — indeed, I think all were ; and, beyond 

 snipe, we got nothing except a quail or two 

 and a bittern, which when cooked was one of 

 the very best birds I ever ate. AVhen at last 

 we got a steamer to Batoum we left Poti with 

 the least possible regret. 



Batoum is the onl}^ place in the Caucasus 

 that seems to have grown at all since I was 

 last in the country (1879), and Batoum has 

 grown and is growing fast. It is already a 

 large and flourishing town — many of the 

 houses well built, some of the shops excellent, 

 and at least one first-rate hotel in course of 

 construction. 



