90 
LIVES OF THE MOGHUL EMPERORS. 
Timur now directed his steps once more to Georgia, 
which he entered with his vast army, routed the 
Georgians in several engagements, reduced their fort- 
resses, until then considered impregnable, razed the 
walls, and put their garrisons to the sword. He 
made himself master of Taws, a strong fortress which 
stood upon so high an elevation that no archer could 
send an arrow over its battlements from the valley 
below. So soon as he obtained possession of this 
stronghold, with his accustomed savage policy he 
caused the whole garrison to be butchered. 
No difficulties checked the victorious career of this 
unsatiable conqueror. He pillaged with unsparing 
severity the countries of the Cossacks in Georgia, put- 
ting all who fell into his hands to death. It is surpris- 
ing with what success he overcame the impediments 
opposed to his progress in this elevated region : his 
troops scaled the most precipitous acclivities, crossed 
the most dangerous torrents, and surmounted almost 
superhuman obstacles. 
One of the greatest impediments to the progress of 
an army in all mountainous districts, is the cataracts, 
which frequently bound from the hills with an impe- 
tuosity that nothing can resist. These are passed 
by various means, all exceedingly perilous, except 
where there are regular substantial bridges, which is 
not usually the case. The engraving will give some 
idea of the sort of bridges employed in the vast chains 
of the Himalaya and Caucasus, being taken from a 
view in Boutan, a district in the former extensive 
range of mountains. The bridge represented in the 
print is thrown over a rapid stream in these hills, 
