222 TlIK ARDON VALLEY. 



river, like the Rioii, is formed by two torrents running 

 parallel to tlie main chain as far as their junction, whence 

 their united streams turn suddenly at right-angles to 

 their former course, and force a way through the deep 

 cleft which divides the Adai Khokh and Kazbek groups. 

 The range between the Mamisson and Zilga Khokh was 

 clear, and presented a line of bold rocky summits separated 

 by deep gaps, offering passes of from 8,000 to 10,000 feet 

 in height into the southern valleys. The mountain-range 

 on the north is on a far grander scale, but clouds unluckily 

 hid all the tops of the Adai Khokh group, and we could 

 see only the tail of one glacier. 



At the base of the projecting mass on which we stood, 

 was a deep valley terminated by a rocky cirque, above 

 which a remarkably-pointed peak, called Tau Teply, showed 

 itself through the mists. When the clouds blew off, 

 we saw that the sharp rock-cone was supported by a long 

 icy ridge, depriving the mountain of some of its ap- 

 parent boldness of outline. We were, not unnaturally, in 

 the constant habit of comparing Caucasian with Swiss 

 scenery, as the best means whereby to confirm or correct 

 our first impressions. Thus far we were agreed that in 

 form the Caucasian peaks were at least as bold as the 

 summits in the most serrated portion of the Alpine range. 

 The featiu-es missing in the valleys of the Terek and 

 Ardon are large glaciers and forests. The earth's surface 

 must be wonderfully broken to render a district absolutely 

 bare of trees anything but monotonously savage ; despite 

 therefore some striking views, at points where lofty ]3eaks 

 close either end of the valley, the scenery of the Upj^er 

 Ardon must be characterised as on the whole dull. 



There was a good deal of snow on the path, but it was 

 tolerably hard, and did not cause any difiiculty to the 

 horses. After a last glance at the mountain-encircled den 



