GRATITUDE OF THE OFFENDER. 109 



bastinadoed, bad not Pagniotti suggested to his 

 highness that, as we were the persons insulted, 

 we should probably wish to enjoy the spectacle 

 of punishment. This the Agha considered a 

 reasonable request, and the knave was put in irons 

 to await our return. Our arrival was no sooner 

 known than we were besieged by the friends and 

 relations of the culprit, with peace offerings of 

 kaimak and eggs to appease our wrath ; whilst 

 the Agha's secretary visited us officially to know 

 when and how we desired the punishment to 

 take place. As the poor fellow was pretty well 

 frightened by this time, we begged him off, and 

 he showed his gratitude by attending on us as 

 a servant during the remainder of our stay, doing 

 his best by activity and attention to regain our 

 favour. 



March 17th. — Toosa being now the only site 

 unvisited in this neighbourhood excepting the 

 forbidden Erness, we resolved to devote this day 

 to its examination, and starting early, we crossed 

 the plain to the south-east, then the stream at 

 the foot of the eastern mountains, and in two 

 hours arrived by an ascending rocky path at the 

 elevated district above, where we immediately 

 came in sight of the walled city which had been 



