of the Old World. . 413 



time to time, showed symptoms of uneasiness as we 

 wandered through apparently boundless depths of 

 forest. The route was wild in the extreme, often 

 leading across long extents of marshes, unhealthy 

 swamps, and innumerable small rivers and streams, 

 which our horses were generally able to ford, but 

 semetimes had to swim. Now and then we had a 

 good deal of trouble to cross, on account of the force 

 of the current ; and on one occasion we nearly lost 

 one of our number, who got into a quicksand, and 

 was only saved by our throwing him branches, with 

 which he supported himself until we managed to 

 draw him out with a rope. 



We rode for ten or twelve miles along the base of 

 thickly-wooded hills, until we came to a good-sized 

 stream, running between high steep banks, fringed 

 in places with willow and large trees, somewhat re- 

 sembling the sycamore, which our guide informed us 

 was a branch of the River Kodor, the same we had 

 forded near the embouchure, when accompanying the 

 Turkish army from Suchum Kaleh. Here we deter- 

 mined to bivouac^ and, whilst my people were engaged 

 in culinary operations, I strolled up the river with 

 Ahmed and Kuchuc, on the look out for a chance- 

 shot at deer, as I had seen a few slots during our 

 march. Suddenly turning round a bend in the river, 

 I observed some smoke a short distance ahead, 

 which, after a careful reconnaissance, we approached, 



