2 EGYPT AND PALESTINE. 



explored tlie recesses of the finest portions of the chain, 

 although not a few had crossed the great highway of 

 the Dariel, or followed in the footsteps of the Eussian 

 armies in Daghestan. 



My journey was to begin in January, at which time 

 it was obviously to6 early to start on a mountaineering 

 excursion, and the ease with which a visit to the Cauca- 

 sian provinces might be fitted on to an Eastern tour 

 induced me to spend the intervening months in Egypt 

 and the Holy Land. 



The plan was definitely settled when my friend Mr. 

 Tucker agreed to join me in the whole of the proposed 

 journey. I had the good fortune to secure a second comrade 

 for our Caucasian explorations in Mr. Moore, who was, 

 however, unable to leave London until the summer, and 

 therefore promised to meet us, at Tiflis, about June 

 20th. So far our party was complete, but for moun- 

 taineering work it was evidently necessary to have the 

 assistance of at least one skilled guide. My old com- 

 panion, rran9ois Devouassoud of Chamouni, was jnst the 

 man we wanted, and he proved not only willing but 

 anxious to join us. The only question was whether he 

 should meet us at some point in our journey, or should 

 accompany us from its outset. I finally determined to 

 accede to his wishes, and take him as a travelling servant, 

 having full confidence in his intelligence and readiness 

 to accommodate himself to new scenes and unaccustomed 

 modes of life. We had no reason to repent this decision. 



After a busy fortnight, spent in getting together the 

 necessaries for our journey — which included a tent, water- 

 proof saddlebags, a portable kitchen, and large quantities 

 of Liebig's soup — we left England on January 4th, 1868. 

 We passed through the South of France in the most intense 

 cold: at Avignon the Rhone was frozen from bank to 



