682 
MARCH WITHOUT AN ESCORT. 
night, a round refusal was given. It was, however, eleven 
o’clock before the Tatars could be so persuaded of the fruitless¬ 
ness of their eloquence, as to see the necessity of marching by 
ourselves: but having taken courage to start, just as our last 
loaded beast was following their lagging steps out of the village, 
a little old hunch-backed man stepped forth, and offered his 
services to guide us through the mountains. He told us, he 
knew their paths well, and could lead us by ways far from the 
dangerous tracks we must pass, should we take the direct road. 
No hesitation was made in accepting the offer, and rallying our 
host, we commenced our career.* The course he took was 
winding, though on an average N. 30° W., and led through a 
variety of mountain-scenery ; sometimes over fine pasture hills, 
and at others amongst naked projecting rocks, where I saw as 
fine specimens of iron ore, as any I found in the celebrated mines 
of Sweden. After journeying thus for two hours and a half, we 
descended into a valley so remote from common passage as to 
possess no road ; but it was not barren of cultivation, and a few 
villages were scattered through it. A narrow stream, called the 
Lori-Sou, meanders amongst its gentle undulations, and after a 
course to the north-west falls into the river Sormaun or Sotma. 
We passed a small congregation of huts, to which our guide gave 
the name of Bushki, in the heart of the vale. The distance from 
Kara-Koulak was estimated at three hours and a half, and at 
about a mile farther we came to the village of Lori, which gives 
its title to both river and valley. We reached another village, 
after an hour’s travel more northward, called Little Lori; but 
the whole vale not being more than five miles in width, we 
soon traversed it, and took to the mountains again. At the 
* See Plate LXXXIII., and the Map. 
