FORTRESS OF MAZENGUTT. 
655 
deur, and crowned with the remains of strong walls and towers. 
In former times, it had been the fastness of some of the most 
formidable robber chiefs ; and, certainly none could be better 
chosen. Our looked-for village, or rather cellarage, lay close 
to its base. The inhabitants of such places, in these districts, 
are now called “ tamed Gourdsthe natives of the whole chain 
of mountains being of that people’s numerous and far-spreading 
tribes. We dismounted at the roofs of our quarters, by half-past 
four o’clock, the distance from Jow-waluke being called twelve 
hours, but I should judge the miles to be no more than twenty- 
eight, or seven farsangs. After beginning the descent of the 
Saganloo, our course had run S. 60° W. The name of our 
present menzil is Mazengutt; and immediately on entering, we 
took possession of no small part of the already crowded apart¬ 
ment dedicated to those who travel post; but nothing can de¬ 
scribe the heat and suffocation of a night passed in one of these 
choppar-khanahs: a Spanish posadoe is comparative air and 
freedom. Men, horses, &c. are all crammed together in the 
same hole ; seldom less than thirty or forty of the latter animals 
forming its quadrupede population ; so some idea may be con¬ 
ceived of the noisome effluvia, as well as heat of the place. To 
bivouac under the open rocks, may seem the natural alternative ; 
but at this season of the year, no traveller can venture such 
exposed lodging; nor to proceed on his journey during such 
dark and cold nights, unless pressed by business. Such as that 
which sometimes urges the Tatar (the courier Janissary) to pur¬ 
sue his object after sunset; and so necessarily exposes himself 
and company to all the peculiar dangers of these banditti-moun¬ 
tains, and their bleak casualties of snow, and icy precipices. 
At this post we were joined by one of these Tatars from Kars. 
