64 
CRUELTIES OF THE TCHETCHINZI. 
had left Kislar for this mountain journey, accompanied by his 
wife and a single servant, without any escort whatever. The too 
probable consequences of his rashness followed; he was attacked 
by a party of these brigands. His coachman and his servant 
were murdered ; and, before the officer had time for any defence, 
the robbers fired into the carriage, and killed him by the side of 
his wife. They then plundered the equipage, leaving the dead 
bodies on the scene of murder, and carried the wretched lady 
into the mountains, where they sold her to a chief going further 
into the interior. From the unsuspected sources of communi¬ 
cation which General del Pozzo has amongst these people, he 
soon arrived at the knowledge of who were the actors in this 
horrid tragedy; and, with admirable address, lost no time in 
possessing himself of their persons. He now holds them as 
hostages for the safety of the lady, and proclaims his intention 
to detain them till she is repurchased, and brought, unharmed, 
to his protection. This happy result of his humane exertions 
he expects daily to arrive; but, meanwhile, does not deem it 
proper to stir from the redoubt till she really shall appear; and 
so exchange the most horrible servitude, for those respectful 
consolations which every humane mind would be solicitous to ad¬ 
minister to her wretched state. This poor lady’s calamity, is one 
instance out of many of the barbarity with which these hereditary 
plunderers maltreat their unfortunate captives ; and, indeed, the 
stories we are daily told, of the refined, or rather savage cruelties, 
practised on the defenceless human creature who falls in their 
way, are enough to shake the resolution of any young traveller 
commencing a journey through so perilous a country. At least, 
the apprehensive vigilance which must accompany him at every 
step, in crossing these awful mountains, cannot but cast a shade 
