ALEXANDROFF. 
45 
and of Asia. Elborus, amongst whose rocks tradition reports 
Prometheus to have been chained, stood, clad in primeval snows, 
a world of mountains in itself, towering above all, its white 
and radiant summits mingling with the heavens ; while the pale 
and countless heads of the subordinate range, high in themselves, 
but far beneath its altitude, stretched along the horizon, till lost 
to sight in the soft fleeces of the clouds. Several rough 
and huge masses of black rock rose from the intermediate 
plain, their size was mountainous; but being viewed near the 
mighty Caucasus, and compared with them, they appeared little 
more than hills ; yet the contrast was fine, their dark brows 
giving greater effect to the dazzling summits which towered 
above them. Poets hardly feign, when they talk of the genius 
of a place. I know not who could behold Caucasus, and not 
feel the spirit of its sublime solitudes awing his soul. 
We travelled onward, and a very short time brought us to the 
town of Alexandroff*. It stands at the foot of a high precipitous 
hill, embosomed in trees and gardens, and watered by the river 
Kouma, which flows near it. The country from hence to 
Georgewesk is all steppe, bounded by the distant Caucasus, 
which were occasionally- shut from our view by the thickening- 
vapours of the atmosphere, and the weather, which had been 
gradually darkening, at last turned to a long and drenching rain ; 
under which we entered the town. 
Having a letter for the commandant, General del Pozzo, I drove 
to his house, but did not alight. He was absent in the moun¬ 
tains, superintending the erection of a new fort. This inform¬ 
ation conveyed no small degree of disappointment to me, as 
from him I was to have received every means to facilitate my 
journey ; proper introductions to the officers commanding at 
