350 FEOM TARI TO PATIGOESK. 



given by the Cossacks at Pari of the people of Baksan 

 and the Karatchai, were not doomed to be disappointed. 

 Some villagers came forward, and at once conducted us 

 to a clean-looking cottage, which proved to be a regular 

 guest-house. It contained two rooms, the inner one pro- 

 vided with a wooden divan in one corner. The walls and 

 roof were constructed of the most massive fir-trunks, and 

 the ruddy hue of the timber, combined with the scrupulous 

 cleanliness of the floor, gave a snug appearance to our 

 quarters. The princes, it was intimated, would soon pay 

 us a visit, and in the meantime we hastened to settle 

 with the Pari men, who seemed anything but at ease, and 

 anxious to set off home again as soon as possible. 



As paymaster of the forces, I had told out the neces- 

 sary quantity of notes, separating them into the proper 

 shares for each man, and, with Paul's aid, was in the act 

 of distributing the money, when there was a stu' at the 

 further end of the room, and the princes entered. In the 

 consequent confusion, Paul allowed one j)orter to secure 

 two shares, and of course, when the turn of the last man 

 came, there was nothing left for him. I felt certain I had 

 handed over the proper amount of notes, but the porters 

 all protested that each had only his own share. The 

 matter was suddenly settled by a villager stepping forward, 

 and, to our great amusement and delight, pointing out the 

 noisy ruffian, who had given us so much trouble on the 

 road, as the recipient of the double portion. The money 

 was at once taken from him, and he seemed too doubtful 

 as to his position to venture on any resistance, although 

 he indulged in a display of indignation, and pretended to 

 be ready to be searched. Finding, however, that he was 

 an object of universal laughter, even to his companions, 

 he speedily retreated, and we heard no more of him. 

 Yillany having thus met with its deserts, we rewarded 



