324 SUANETIA. 



a purling stream, tlie image of an English brook. This 

 delightful scenery lasted for a considerable space, as far 

 as the verge of the descent to the Mushalaliz torrent. 

 Here we rested for some minutes under the shade of a 

 beech-grove, before running down the steep path, which 

 bore obliquely along the hillside, covered as usual with a 

 thick mantle of greenery ; the bay, the laburnum, and 

 the wild honeysuckle, now mingled with the shrubs of 

 the higher regions — the rhododendron and azalea — form- 

 ing a dense underwood on either side of the way, which 

 was overshadowed by beeches and hazels. 



A crazy but most picturesque bridge spans the narrow 

 cleft in which flows the stream issuing from the Mushalaliz. 

 The Caucasian jcattle have stronger nerves than those of 

 the Zillerthal, in the Tyrol, where a boarding is put up on 

 one side of any lofty bridge, lest a cow should be alarmed, 

 or take a suicidal fancy to leap into the foaming ton-ent. 

 Here not only is there no railing, but numerous holes are 

 left in the wooden framework of the floor, and it is won- 

 derful that the animals do not often break their legs. A 

 slight rise on the further side brought us to the level of 

 the fertile strip of ground lying between the Ingur and 

 the northern slopes, on which are situated the hamlets of 

 the Latal community. The houses are scattered among 

 the fields, and look less like fortresses or dungeons than 

 those of the upper valley; while the fields are surrounded 

 with neatly-woven fences and tall trees, amongst which 

 we saw, for the first time, walnuts growing in clumps by 

 the side of the path. The height is only 4,500 feet, and 

 the produce of the fields and the abundance of fruit-trees 

 bear witness to a milder climate. Tobacco, Indian corn, 

 millet, peas, and beans are extensively cultivated, and the 

 grass crops, which the peasants were now busy mowing, 

 seemed very rich. 



