A SWORD-DANCE. 



195 



reminded us forcibly of the old men's chorus in 'Faust.' We 

 at last settled with them to take four men as porters, at 

 two-and-a-half roubles (seven shillings each) a day. They 

 were to follow where we led, and to pitch our little tent 

 where we directed. I must do them the justice to say that 

 they carried out their part of the bargain with an honesty 



Monntaineors in Amionr. 



and good-humour which led us to form an unluckily pre- 

 mature estimate of the general character of the people 

 with whom we should afterwards have to deal. 



In the evening, through the kindness of the Command- 

 ant of Duschet, we had an opportunity of witnessing a 

 sword-dance, performed by some mountaineers, habited in 



o 2 



