102 THE TAETAES. 



provisions left for our men, having traversed 

 a most dreary pass, a succession of barren 

 rocks, with here and there, at wide intervals, 

 a stunted tree and an occasional patch of 

 scanty vegetation. 



At the village our further progress was 

 stopped by the Tartars, that is to say, they 

 oifered a passive resistance. Had we per- 

 severed in our wish to advance, what they 

 might have done, I know not ; but had it 

 come to blows, I imagine we could have 

 cleared the whole country from Tangee to 

 Polinsundra, with our Jumnootrie men, had 

 we been so inclined. But that would not 

 have done for me. We waited until the 

 chiefs from various villages assembled, in 

 the vain hope that the discussion might 

 end in our favour ; they had a long palaver, 

 which terminated in their declaring that 

 they dared not allow us to proceed. In the 

 morning they had promised to supply us 

 with provisions, but when it came to tlie 

 point, they either had none, or would not 

 part wlih them, althougli we offered them a 



