THIIOUGII THE FOREST. 



237 



another year, we made our way out of the village, our 

 regret at leaving which was only tempered by Paul's 

 announcement that we had eaten up all the beef. The prince 

 and a friend accompanied us down to the road, where they 

 took a final leave, and we saw no more of the jolliest boy 

 in the Caucasus. The road down the valley keeps on the 

 left bank of the river, and has to make long circuits round 



Alu K 1 1'.ch from the Rion Vallev. 



the ravines Avliich furrow the lower slopes, above which 

 sharp snow-streaked summits * peered from time to time 

 between the trees. The torrent falls very rapidly ; the road 

 descends more gently through the most magnificent pine- 

 forest, varied with birch, poplar, and elm, and carpeted with 

 moss and a variety of subalj)ine flowers. Before reaching 



* The Wallatschibis Mta of Herr Raddc ; the names Dolomis-Zwori and 

 (U'sko appear on the Five Verst Map. 



