190 ASCENT OF KAZBEK. 



themselves up to the license for which they had schemed, 

 until at last the anger of Heaven was aroused bj their 

 misdeeds. A fearful storm fell on the mountain, the cells 

 were destroyed, and nothing more was ever seen or heard 

 of their inmates. So firmly is this story still believed, and 

 so great is the reverence felt by the peasants for the once 

 holy place, that Mons. Khatissian had the greatest diffi- 

 culty in persuading anyone to conduct him to the ruined 

 cells ; and his guide, when induced to venture, fell on his 

 knees at every other step, imploring Heaven to overlook 

 their presumption. A heavy rain-storm the following 

 evening, which threatened destruction to the hay-harvest, 

 was attributed by the villagers to the Divine wrath at 

 Mons. Khatissian's explorations, and he was recommended 

 by the late Prince Kazbek to leave at night, if he wished 

 to escape personal violence. 



The accuracy of the above legend is, I fear, rather 

 impugned by the fact that a lady, who published her 

 * Letters from the Caucasus ' in 1811, actually saw one 

 of the last of these recluses, of whom she does not seem 

 to have formed a very favourable opinion. I quote her 

 own words : ' I had often heard of hermits, but had never 

 seen one. Learning, while at Kazbek, that I could 

 satisfy my curiosity, I went to visit, in a cell not far 

 from that place, one of these sloths, who are such vast 

 pretenders to piety. I was surprised to find a healthy 

 young man : his hermitage is hollowed out of the rock, 

 where, thanks to the superstition of the people, who look 

 upon him as a saint, he lives in abundance. Should he 

 ever be canonised, I shall not indulge much hope from his 

 mediation ; for I saw nothing in this recluse but a cunning 

 rogue, and that sort of address by which the lazy feed on 

 the simplicity of others.' 



The name by which the mountain is now known, and 



