THE WESTERN RIOX. 275 



which mounted steeply through the forest. After climb- 

 ing- several hundred feet, we left it, and plunged into 

 a dense underwood of azalea-bushes, now nearly out of 

 blossom, through which we gradually fought our way back 

 to the level of the Eion. The boulders of the river-bed 

 afforded a less fatiguing path, and did not hinder our ad- 

 vance so much as the tangled thickets into which we were 

 often forced to enter. Torrents, emerging from lateral 

 glens on the south, barred our way, and at first we 

 expended much ingenuity in attempts to cross them dry- 

 shod, by extemporising bridges with a fallen tree, or 

 attempting impossible jumps. As each of us in turn 

 failed and got wet, we gave up the struggle against our 

 too numerous foes, and quietly waded through. After 

 31 hours of very slow and tiring progress, aggravated 

 by the sight of meadows and a fair path on the opposite 

 bank of the river, we came to the broken bridge, and 

 joined the usual track up the valley. There was now a 

 pause of some duration in our struggle with untamed 

 nature. It was, however, quite impossible to make up 

 for lost time by a spurt, as our train of porters absolutely 

 refused to be hurried, and treated our remonstrances with 

 utter, although good-hvimoured, contempt. 



The scenery of this portion of the valley does not equal in 

 grandeur that of the eastern branch, but the woodland 

 effects are very beautiful, and quite unlike anything in the 

 Alps. Dense forests of deciduous trees, amongst which the 

 beech and the maple are conspicuous, clothe the lower 

 mountain-sides, which conceal all view of the snowy chain. 

 Pines gradually disappear, and none are found near the head 

 of the valley. On a high bank on the right of the Eion, op- 

 posite its junction with the Zopkhetura, a tributary which 

 nearly doubles its volume, are some fields, the highest culti- 



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