DENSE VEGETATION. 281 



gTound, cut into deep furrows by the melting of the winter 

 snows. At first the vegetation, amongst which we again 

 found ourselves, took the form of stunted bushes, the 

 tangled branches of which might occasionally trip us 

 up, but offered no material impediment to our progress. 

 As the trees grew thicker, and no trace of path appeared, 

 we weie glad to take advantage of the partially dry bed of 

 a torrent, which was narrow enough to permit of our 

 jumping from side to side as occasion required. When it 

 joined the main stream, and no space was left between 

 the foaming waters and the steep bank, we were obliged 

 to enter the wood. First, we forced our way through a 

 dense thicket, where we had to push aside the upper 

 branches with our arms, whilst we scrambled as best we 

 could in and out of deep rivulet-beds, and over or under 

 the trunks of partially-fallen or prostrate trees. On 

 emerging into a glade, we did not find our condition much 

 bettered by the change. Although at a distance, and 

 when seen from above, the smooth and flowery surface had 

 suggested no difficulties, we now found that it was com- 

 posed of a dense growth of umbelliferous plants, growing 

 to an average height of six feet above the ground.^ We 

 were at first at a loss whether to admire the extraordinary 

 luxuriance of the cloak which nature has spread over the 

 soil in this mountain region, or to grumble at the toil it 

 cost us to make each step in advance ; but the latter senti- 

 ment soon gained the mastery. 



Moore, unwell as he was, could not maintain the exertion 



* According to Herr Eadde (who is an eminent botanist), this phenomenon of 

 the A'egetable world is thus produced : — ' The frosts of autumn kill down tho 

 summer's growth, and leave it rotting on tlie ground ; the rich soil formed by 

 its decay is covered by the winter snows, often to a depth of thirty feet. As spring 

 advances, the water of the melting snow percolates the ground, and when it is 

 at last laid bare to the warm rays of a Caucasian sun, the herbs spring from 

 the saturated soil, as from a hotbed.' Whatever may bo the cause, it is certain 

 that the Zenes-Squali would gain a prize for weeds anywhere. 



