420 THE TCHEREK VALLEY. 



lions raised for their accommodation by Syrian dragomen, 

 I may take this opportunity of describing the little struc- 

 ture for which, owing to the satisfactory manner in which it 

 had protected us from cold, wind, and rain, we had by this 

 time acquired quite an affection. The framework consisted 

 of two pairs of poles, jointed for convenience like a fishing- 

 rod, and stoutly shod with iron spikes. A single rope, form- 

 ing the ridge of the tent, was passed over the fork of either 

 pair, and attached at both ends as tightly as possible to the 

 ground, by pegs or boulders. By this means, and by 

 forcing apart the spikes of the poles, the canvas which was 

 attached to them was stretched taut in every direction. 

 I may add that the flap serving as a door could be securely 

 tied across the entrance, and that the floor formed one 

 piece with the sides, so that the weight of oui- bodies 

 served as an additional safeguard against the risk of being 

 blown over during the night. The internal arrangements 

 were of a simple character. Having fii-st fastened in a 

 second waterproof floor, we spread out our light mattrass, 

 bought at Erivan, laying it across the tent. The founda- 

 tion of our pillows consisted of our thick boots ; uj)on these 

 we laid our revolvers and cartridge-pouch, crowning the 

 edifice with a coat or mackintosh. All being then ready, 

 we took up our respective positions ; the dimensions of our 

 snuggery were six feet square, so that no one could be 

 restless at night without rousing his neighbours, but we 

 found practically that each had sufficient room to slee^) 

 comfortably. 



When the hour of our evening meal arrived, we ate our 

 food seated tailor-fashion in a row on the mattrass, Paul 

 pushing in to us, from the entrance at the other end, the 

 various viands, tempting or the reverse, which he had pre- 

 pared. The cooking was accomplished by means of a 

 portable apparatus brought from England, combining, in a 



