CHAP. IV.] 
A RACE FOR ELLYRIA. 
167 
Latookas explained that beyond this spot there was 
level and unbroken ground the whole way to Latooka. 
Could we only clear Ellyria before the Turks I had no 
fear for the present; but at the very moment when 
success depended upon speed, we were thus baffled by 
the difficulties of the ground. I therefore resolved 
to ride on in advance of my party, leaving them to 
overcome the difficulties of the pass by constantly 
unloading the animals, while I would reconnoitre in 
front, as Ellyria was not far distant. My wife and 
I accordingly rode on, accompanied only by one of the 
Latookas as a guide. After turning a sharp angle of 
the mountain, leaving the cliff abruptly rising to the 
left from the narrow path, we descended a ravine worse 
than any place we had previously encountered, and we 
were obliged .to dismount, in order to lead our horses 
up the steep rocks on the opposite side. On arrival on 
the summit, a lovely view burst upon us. The valley 
of Ellyria was about four hundred feet below, at about 
a mile distant. Beautiful mountains, some two or 
three thousand feet high, of grey granite walled in the 
narrow vale; while the landscape of forest and plain 
was bounded at about fifty or sixty miles distance to 
the east by the blue mountains of Latooka. The 
mountain of Ellyria was the commencement of the 
fine range that continued indefinitely to the south. 
