PREVIOUS ASCENTS. 163 



ground in a circle, and to the ends of these the top of the 

 tent is loosely fastened. It is afterwards forced np and 

 made taut by poles inserted underneath. The sides are then 

 filled in with a roll of matting or reeds, through which 

 the winds penetrate far too easily. The next morning 

 was fine, and the Kurd porters, to gain several more days' 

 pay (their object throughout), were willing to carry the 

 baggage anywhere. Our provisions, however, were ex- 

 hausted, and we must have waited a day for a fresh supply. 

 I did not feel able to try the mountain again with any 

 chance of success, without rest and good food, and Tucker 

 had done nearly enough. After an hour's debate, we 

 decided that we had no choice but to descend to Aralykli. 

 On the way down, we had a good deal of talk (through 

 Paul) with the Kurd chief, who was a good fellow in his 

 way. Though otherwise an intelligent and well-informed 

 man, he shared the superstition prevalent among the 

 natives at the foot of the mountain, that its top never 

 has been, and never can be, trodden by mortal foot. 

 This belief is maintained, despite the two recorded and 

 undoubted ascents of Herr Parrot in 1829, and Gene- 

 ral Chodzko in 1850. Neither of them are open to the 

 slightest doubt. Parrot positively asserts that, on his 

 third attempt, he gained the actual summit, of which, 

 moreover, he gives an intelligible description. General 

 Chodzko led a regular military expedition against the 

 mountain, advancing slowly, but surely, until he pitched 

 his camp a few hundred feet below the top. There he re- 

 mained for a week, engaged in scientific observation. Both 

 these ascents took place in the early autumn, when, owing 

 to the diminution of the snow, the summit is most accessi- 

 ble. Our Kurd also knew Alagoz well, having been in the 

 habit of feeding his flocks on the great ujiland pasturage, 

 which lies to the south of the peaks; and he confirmed 



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