CHAP. IV.] 
A RACE FOR ELLYRIA. 
113 
Latookas explained that beyond this spot there was 
level and unbroken ground the wdiole 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. 
We were now in the very gorge of that chain. Below 
us, in the valley, I observed some prodigious trees 
growing close to a Hor (ravine), in which was running 
water, and the sides of the valley under the mountains 
being as usual a mass of debris of huge detached rocks, 
were thronged with villages, all strongly fortified with 
thick bamboo palisades. The whole country was a series 
of natural forts, occupied by a large population. 
A glance at the scene before me was quite sufficient; 
—to fight a way through a valley a quarter of a mile 
wide, hemmed in by high walls of rock and bristling 
with lances and arrows, would be impossible with my 
few men, encumbered by transport animals. Should 
i 
