50 
RIVER TEREK. 
bank of the river, where I was likely to procure the sort of steed 
proper for so long and fatiguing an expedition. I accepted his 
friendly offer, and we crossed the Terek on a float, which was 
guided safely to the shore by means of a rope. The Tcherka- 
sians, with whom we were to negociate, are a sort of off-set of 
the people called Circassians. 
This river, which separates Russian Europe from Russian 
Asia, rises in the Caucasus, near Kobi; and the mountains, 
whence it issues, are the highest seen from the near neighbour¬ 
hood of Mozdock. The first course it takes is to the north, 
making its way through a great portion of the breadth of this 
tremendous pile. The stream, as it descends from its native 
rocks, is exceedingly rapid; rushing onward (for I cannot give 
it so mild an appellation as flowing) with a noise and violence 
scarcely to be equalled by any other mountain-torrent; nor do 
the swiftness and tumult of its progress diminish much for a long 
stretch after it has reached the plain, but it goes rolling forward 
to the north-west, as if still impelled by the plunge of its first 
descent. About thirty wersts from Mozdock it makes a turn 
eastward, and thence, gradually subsiding in turbulence, flows 
on with increasing tranquillity as it approaches nearer the Cas¬ 
pian shore. There it empties itself into several channels, which 
bestow benefits as well as beauty on the districts they water, 
until, that duty done, they unite again in the bosom of the Caspian 
Sea. On one of the most considerable of these branches, or chan¬ 
nels, the city of Kislar stands ; a situation of great advantage. I am 
thus particular in my account of this river, because, by its extent 
and various divisions, it is likely to be a frequent companion of 
the traveller in this part of the world: indeed, to him whose 
destination is Tiflis, it travels by his side nearly half the way ; 
