352 FROM PARI TO PATIGORSK. 



tive heiglits of the two mountains might fairly be used 

 as an argument for the truth of the story. If it meets 

 with general acceptance, we are ready cheerfully to waive 

 any claims to the honour of the first ascent of Elbruz in 

 favour of the crew of the Ark, or, as Fran9ois happily 

 phrased it, 'la famille Noah.' 



Our hosts were acquainted with the name of Elbruz, but 

 it had to be translated to the circle of villagers, who only 

 knew the mountain as Minghi-Tau. The introduction 

 having been thus happily effected, our new friendship 

 was cemented by the timely arrival of a trayful of tea and 

 cakes, which were placed on a low three-legged stool, which 

 served as a table. 



The princes requested us to ask for whatever we wanted, 

 and offered to supply us with food as well as lodging. Un- 

 willing to put them to unnecessary trouble on the one 

 hand, and also preferring Paul's cookery to the hunches 

 of boiled mutton which form the staple dish of a Caucasian 

 cuisine, we asked only that our servant might be aided to 

 procure what was wanted. In this way we were able to 

 pay for the large stock of provisions necessary for a cam- 

 paign of at least four days against Elbruz. Paul found 

 all sorts of luxuries, including butter, potatoes, and sugar — 

 the latter coming from the princes' household — 'to all of 

 vyhich we had long been strangers. Having drunk nothing 

 but tea and water since leaving Kazbek, with the exception 

 of the muddy wine of Glola, we welcomed enthusiastially 

 a villager who brought us some very fair native beer. 

 This is probably the liquid referred to by old Klaproth, 

 who mentions that the beer made by the Karatchai and 

 Baksan people ' is nearly equal to London porter,' although, 

 in that case, either the London brewers must have im- 

 proved since his time, or the native manufacture deterio- 

 rated. We were supplied at night with the unwonted 



