of the Old World. 377 



bound to restore the stolen property sevenfold. 

 Murder or crime is generally punished by fine, more 

 or less, according to the rank of the victim. 



Some of the Kabardines and Abassians profess a 

 kind of Christianity, but they are a more degenerate 

 and treacherous race than the Circassians, who, 

 though cruel crafty enemies, are extremely hospitable 

 and more to be depended upon. 



A petty chieftain, who lived with his tribe in the 

 mountains to the northward of Illori, dined with us ; 

 and, as he spoke Turkish tolerably well and was 

 exceedingly communicative, I gleaned a good deal of 

 useful information about the country and the kind 

 of game that was likely to be met with. According 

 to his account, bears of an immense size, as well as 

 wolves, hyenas, and jackals were to be found on the 

 mountains, besides red-deer, wild cattle, hog, wild 

 goats, and sheep (which latter proved to be ibex and 

 chamois). He invited me to visit his "konak" en 

 route, and undertook to show me game of different 

 kinds, which offer I was glad to accept. 



When the repast was over, coffee served, and the 

 servants out of the way, I produced a little keg of 

 brandy ; and, notwithstanding we were all supposed to 

 be good Mussulmen, it went round merrily, and 

 opened the hearts of " the Faithful." 



The " cratur " made the eyes of the old Osmanli 

 colonel glisten again, and, as the keg passed round 



