310 SUAXETIA. 



man lived, and we lioped by his aid to obtain a second 

 horse to carry on our goods. Having eaten our lunch in 

 a barn similar to our late lodging, we commenced nego- 

 tiations for our further journey ; but though there are plenty 

 of horses in the country, they had all been sent to the 

 upper pastui'es, and there was not one to be found. Two men, 

 however, were ready to carry the load between them, and 

 we should have had little difficulty in settling terms but 

 for the interference of the horseman. He caused a hitch 

 in the arrangement, and, when we told him to stand aside, 

 snatched his old flint- and- steel pistol from his belt, and 

 brandished it in our faces. Finding that his conduct 

 provoked more laughter than fear, and not exactly know- 

 ing what to do with his weaj^on, he walked off in a huff. 

 There were only about a dozen people in the hamlet, so 

 there was no risk of a row ; but we were in considerable 

 difficulty as to how to get forward, and were obliged to 

 condescend to cajole Islam back into a good humour. This 

 Moore successfully effected, and we concluded an agree- 

 ment that we should be taken in three days to Pari, and 

 should employ two porters until a second horse was met with. 

 We were surprised to hear that the dii'ect path 

 down the glen of the Ingur was impassable for horses, 

 and that we must mount the valley of the Kalde-Tshalai, 

 opening behind the village, to its head, and then cross a pass 

 to Adisch ; but as this route promised to fulfil our purpose 

 of seeing as much as possible of the country, we made no 

 objection to its adoj)tion. The natives proposed to start at 

 once, and spend the night near the head of the valley, where 

 they knew of a shelter. We willingly agreed, and, about 

 3.30 P.M., again set out, to reclimb the steep path we had 

 descended to reach Davkar, until a grassy brow was gained, 

 high above the junction of the valleys. Here the paths 

 forked, and we followed the one which mounted beside the 



