334 Journal of a Tour through Georgia, [July, 



and Mr. Cormick his physician. We went cheerily on, over a suc- 

 cession of finely undulating hills and dales, till we reached our halting 

 place at three o'clock p. m. with no more fatigue than if we had taken 

 only a morning ride. 



We left Zodi at seven o'clock next morning, still traversing the 

 plain in a direction south 50° east. The country, though so extensive, 

 changed nothing in its appearance, excepting that the hills stood thicker 

 and higher. The weather was delightfully pleasant, and every thing 

 breathed the air of spring. We proceeded along the left side of the 

 Aligez, close to the base of its mountain-wall. Its sloping sides were 

 thickly set with hamlets and enclosures, which produced a most delight- 

 ful contrast to the regions of barren rock which pended above. Con- 

 tinuing our march, the plain widened between more equally undulat- 

 ing banks, and soon after we discovered an addition to our party in 

 the shape of a greyhound. His service proved an acquisition, for 

 scarcely had we seen him, ere a herd of antelopes presented themselves 

 along the slope of the hills near the low ground. We allowed them to 

 advance upon the plain, and then slipped the dogs. The antelopes 

 darted before us like a flash of lightning, and the Persians halloed like 

 thunder. The sport became both animated and delightful, and the 

 steeds, having a fine even plain before them, kept well up. At length 

 the chased animal finding the dogs gaining upon him, made for the 

 hills with redoubled speed, when Prince Khosrou, who was in the way 

 as he repassed within musket shot, fired and so wounded him that the 

 dogs were on him before he could traverse another fifty yards. He was 

 placed upon the back of a mule, and proved a capital addition to our 

 travelling stock of provisions. 



We now took a descending position, due east, over a stony and 

 difficult road ; which carried us through several rocky defiles, and over 

 the river Terter.till we reached a small Muhamme dan village named Sauk 

 Boulak. We halted there for the night, and slept under the roof of a 

 hospitable Mussulman, who roasted a sheep whole, and gave us some 

 excellent coffee. On the morning of the 10th, we left our kind host, 

 who appeared glad enough to see us depart, having been frightened by 

 the fierce looks, and glittering arms of the Prince's attendants. We 

 set forth over a road leading due south, passing to the westward of 

 Shesha, the capital of Karabagh. On our way, we saw several Cos- 

 sack stations, where our conductor, the Russian General, changed his 

 baggage horses. These posts consisted of a few miserable straw huts, 

 and the soldiers appeared performing the most menial offices. As we 

 passed along, they stood with their heads uncovered ; and the people 

 of the country likewise observing this ceremony looked ridiculous 

 enough, since their heads were closely shorn. 



