482 
SHELTER IN A CAVERN, 
strongly relieved by the blackness all around. This, with the 
varied deep colours of their garments, and the transient glittering 
of their dagger hilts, and huge embossed waist-clasps, and also 
of their heavier mountain arms hung against the dark walls, 
completed the most perfect subject for such a picture I ever 
beheld, or may ever see again. 
I soon got very good friends with these wildest sons of the 
East; who declared themselves fellow-wanderers like ourselves, 
and in as little favour with the inhospitable occupiers of Yel- 
tomar. The fuel we saw burning so cheeringly on our entrance, 
they had gathered from the dismembered trees about; and, with 
stomachs nearly as empty as our own, were taking the night as 
merrily as might be, when we made our shivering appearance. 
One of them, finding us all partners under the same wants, 
drew forth his wallet, and producing a store of bread and goat’s- 
milk cheese, most hospitably invited the whole party to partake 
it. None of mine had tasted any thing since seven o’clock of 
the preceding morning at Serdasht, and most happy we were to 
stretch out our hands to this Courdish feast; which, certainly, 
became rather a light one when divided amongst so many. 
During our repast, and after it was over, two or three of the 
younger men did their best to entertain us yet farther, with their 
songs, or rather shouts ; accompanied by some of their compa¬ 
nions, with music blown from a reed, not unlike that of a haut¬ 
boy. One of them afterwards produced a small pipe, similar in 
shape and tone to a flageolet, from which he drew the most 
beautiful notes I ever heard. The airs resembled our Irish me¬ 
lodies, in slowness of movement and tender melancholy expres¬ 
sion, with the certain peculiarity of strain usually attached to 
the ancient harp of Green Erin ; while the execution of this wild 
