338. FROM PARI TO TATIGORSK. 



last in Siianetia, above the defile of the Ingur. These, 

 like the capital, are built on terraces, high above the river, 

 and separated from one another by deep and broad ravines. 

 A description of the details of our morning's walk would be 

 nearly as wearisome as was the reality; there was little 

 change in the character of the views, and our time was 

 chiefly spent in going down and up steep zigzags. So 

 great were the circuits we were obliged to make, and so 

 dawdling were our porters, that it was time for a midday 

 halt before we reached the last hamlet built on the southern 

 slope of the spur that projects on the eastern side of the 

 entrance to the Nakra valley. We sat down under the shade 

 of a large tree, above the houses, from which the villagers 

 soon crowded round us ; with them came a small bear, led 

 by a troop of boys, who cuifed and dragged about poor Bruin 

 very mercilessly. A short and gentle ascent over rich 

 meadows brought us to the top of the spur, whence there 

 was a fine view. At a great depth beneath us lay the 

 glen of the Nalcra, backed by snow- streaked ranges, and 

 clothed with the finest pine-forests we had yet seen. The 

 single trees were magnificent, and, standing some distance 

 apart, rose above the other foliage in distinct dark-green 

 cones. The scene strongly resembled some represented in 

 photographs of the Himalayas, and was exceedingly strik- 

 ing. Turning southward, we had before us the deep cleft 

 in the hills which forms the gate of Suanetia, and affords 

 an outlet to the river and the road to Sugdidi, a small Ab- 

 kasian town, halfway between Kutais and Soukhoum-Kale. 

 Our Pari porters showed so strong a disposition to 

 walk in the ways of the men of Davkar — that is, to 

 dawdle on for ten minutes, and then sit down and chat 

 for fifteen — that we took the opportunity of their suggest- 

 ing that the sum fixed on as their pay was insufficient, to 

 read them a lecture. Sitting iii a row, we summoned them 



