•248 CAUCASIAN GLACIERS AND FOllESTS. 



the eye. The glen uj) which our path lay was soon 

 terminated, by a steep glacier falling over in a long 

 icefall from the unseen snowfields above. The rich 

 pasturages of this beautiful plain, and the surrounding 

 slopes, are not allowed altogether to run to waste ; we 

 passed herds both of horses and oxen, and saw smoke 

 rising from the bivouacs of the peasants in charge of 

 them. Steep walls of rock hem in the upper portion of 

 the glen, and the glacier-torrent has covered the space 

 between them with granitic boulders, amongst w'hich we 

 picked our way. 



A long and gradual ascent to the foot of the glacier 

 was followed by a very steep but easy climb up the slopes 

 of snow and rock on its right. Halfway up we stopped, 

 and Awhile resting saw to our surprise a large flock of 

 sheep, accompanied by their dogs and shepherds, descend- 

 ing towards us. The animals hurried and slid down 

 the snow at a great pace, apparently anxious to finish 

 tlieir march, and reach the tempting herbage, already in 

 sight below them. The dogs were fine animals, but some- 

 what savage, and not at all disjjosed to acquiesce quietly 

 in our presence ; they were called off by their masters, 

 Avith whom we were, of course, unable to hold any com- 

 munication. Our Chiora, peasant now exjDressed by signs 

 his wish to return, so, having given him a good day's walk, 

 we paid him all he asked for, and let him go. 



For some distance further the ascent was very rapid, still 

 over alternate beds of shale and snow. At last we were 

 on a level with the top of the icefall, and looked into the 

 deep neve-filled basin which feeds it. We had not carefully 

 followed the sheei)-track, and on looking back saw that it 

 had turned sharp up the slopes to the left, some distance 

 behind. Although it would have been perfectly easy to 

 regain it, the course up the glacier to its head was so far 



