VEGETATION. 201 



trating behind Taktalu, from whence descends a 

 road to the Allagheer Tchy valley by Geodena. 

 The mountain sides here were covered by pine- 

 forests, through which, after crossing the stream, 

 we began to ascend by a steep and rather 

 difficult road. In these forests bears abound, 

 and our guide showed us the spot where, a few 

 years before, he had killed a large one weighing 

 one hundred and twenty okes, — about three 

 hundred pounds. After three hours travelling 

 we arrived at the upper edge of the forest. 

 Here were artificial terraces, the evidences of 

 ancient cultivation in an age when the dis- 

 trict was better peopled than it now is; but 

 we could hear of no ancient fortress or ruin in 

 the neighbourhood of them. We were now at a 

 considerable elevation, and the vegetation had 

 completely changed its character. Many of the 

 shrubs and flowers of the plains were wanting, 

 others of more alpine features taking their 

 places, whilst such as were common to lowlands 

 and highlands, though in full leaf or bloom around 

 Tekerova, were here only in bud. Having 

 reached the summit of the pass, we found our- 

 selves on a broad gap between the northern 

 extremity of Taktalu, Climax, and Baraket-dagh. 



