244 THE RION VALLEY. 



baggage. Botli questions were settled before niglitfall ; a 

 ■native agreed to be ready to start with us at lialf-past 1 a.m., 

 and we determined that Paul should hire a horse and go 

 on to Gebi, which was onlj an hour's walk farther up the 

 valley, there to await our return. 



The people of Chiora were less simple and kindly than 

 those of Gurschavi and Glola ; but we had no reason to 

 complain of any inhospitable conduct, beyond the usual 

 desire to make a good bargain, and get as much as they 

 could out of us. Their impression of our position was 

 shown by a request, made to us in the course of the 

 evening, that on our return to Kutais, we would repre- 

 sent to the Governor of Mingrelia the unfair distribution 

 of the mountain pasturages, by which the neighbouring 

 villages got more than their share, and Chiora had not 

 enough for its flocks and herds. According to Paul, we 

 were generally believed to be officials employed on some 

 survey, or such-like mystery of civilisation, the existence 

 of which was known to, though its benefit was beyond 

 the comprehension of, the common Caucasian intellect. 



