650 
THE ARPATCHIA. 
battle. The horses were speedily led out, and as promptly 
laden ; and every thing bidding fair for good progress, at about 
eleven in the forenoon we passed the gate of Kars. The road 
was excellent; and soon after leaving the eastern suburb, it 
carried us westward, with the shore of the river on our right. 
The plain continued opening in that direction with every tes¬ 
timony of active husbandry, while the abundant waters of the 
Arpatchia, here called the Kars, aided the work, assisted by 
countless little streams, the bounty of the adjacent mountains. 
Having thus proceeded three miles, in a direction S. 70° W. 
we crossed the river, and at the termination of three more, 
reached the village of Koombat, very distinguishable at some 
distance, by the ruins of its ancient church appearing over 
the surrounding hovels. Two miles onward, we found the 
village of Tamboora, and a little to our right, that of Mucha. 
During our travel we met several of the wedge-shaped carts 
before described at Jigatti and Salmos ; but here they were of 
lighter fabric, and better put together. All were loaded with 
each a huge trunk of a tree, placed ingeniously on the vehicle, a 
little beyond its balance; the thicker part towards the angle and 
along the pole, and poised so as to come within six or eight 
inches of the yoke of the oxen. Being suspended from the 
yoke by a strong rope of willow branches, which allows it play, 
a very small force is necessary to raise it sufficiently to admit its 
easily passing over uneven grounds, as well as to draw it onward 
when once set off; besides, its position gives an impelling power. 
Marks of industry were seen every where ; and innumerable 
villages studded the ground, to the most distant parts of the 
landscape. I may picture the huts of the peasantry under that 
appellation; for they lie so close to the earth, (in fact, the chief 
