28 
THROUGH KUBAN TAHTARY, 
chap, with this he was occupied in keeping off the 
- — v mosquitoes. The Cossack army halted upon the 
brow of the hill ; and all the cavalry, being dis- 
mounted, were drawn up in two lines parallel 
to the river: in front appeared the Cossack sol- 
diers, standing by their lances. The Ataman 
and his principal officers rode down into the 
plain before the tent: here, having alighted, 
their horses were taken back, and they all 
advanced, bareheaded, towards the Pasha. We 
accompanied them; and being stationed by 
the Ataman, near to his person, understood, by 
means of our interpreter, all that passed upon 
the occasion. 
ofconciud- The Preliminaries were begun by an apology 
p«tce.° from the ^ taman for having kept the Pasha so 
long waiting. “ Your coming,” replied the 
Pasha, “ is for a good purpose, and therefore 
may have demanded consideration : bad things 
alone are rashly hurried over.” 
Ataman. “ Have you explained to the Cir- 
cassian princes that we are not satisfied with 
oaths ot peace made by them in their territory • 
Y e must bear testimony to their attestations 
here, in our own land.” 
P asha. “ I have made this known throughout 
all the Caucasian line. Several of the most 
powerful princes of the country are now present, 
