THE MAMISSON KOAD. 225 



Western Europe, that they are iiaturall}^ slow in the 

 appreciation of the necessity of good highways in the 

 Caucasus. If military purposes demand a means of com- 

 munication, soldiers are set to work, and one sufficient for 

 the momentary need is constructed ; had all the roads 

 which have been traced and cut, at immense cost both of 

 money and labour, been finished and kept in repair, the 

 Western Caucasus would now be very fairly provided with 

 routes practicable for light carriages, and much more 

 would have been done to^vards the civilisation of the 

 country. The road now in question has some chance of 

 completion, owing to its obvious importance as the shortest 

 line from Vladikafkaz to the Black Sea coast. The Viceroy 

 of the Caucasus passed this way in September last, and 

 his visit may perhaps have the effect of giving the needed 

 impulse to the local authorities. There was absolutely 

 nothing to look at during the walk up the western arm of 

 the Ardon to Teeb. The track mounted gradually along 

 the northern side of the valley, passing above several 

 villages surrounded by fields of barley enclosed by untidy 

 fences. We met a drove of colts being taken southwards 

 for sale ; the Kabarda, a district of which I shall presently 

 have more to say, is celebrated for its breed of horses, and 

 exports large numbers annually to the markets of Tiflis and 

 Kutais. 



Teeb consists of several hamlets scattered on the 

 hillside above and below the road ; we sent Paul to recon- 

 noitre, and waited to learn the result of his enquiries, 

 which proved satisfactory, and we were installed in a clean 

 little room on the housetop. The people, living on a 

 frequented path, and having had troops quartered near them 

 for many months, were more accustomed to see passers- 

 by, and less churlish than those of the other branch of the 

 valley. There was even a priest in the village, who talked 



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