ENTERTAINMENT AT GENERAL KASIBECK’S. 
79 
narrow door, which, when shut, completely closes up the whole. 
The family themselves inhabit one of the sides of the quadrangle, 
looking inwards ; and in the opposite corner are a suite of ex¬ 
cellent rooms, set apart for the reception of travellers of distinc¬ 
tion. I had been honoured in being ushered into these apart¬ 
ments as soon as I arrived; and I was greeted by a little boy 
about twelve years old, the son and representative of the late 
General-chief, who performed the hospitable duties of the house 
with the grace of one twice his age. His mother, the mistress 
of the mansion, did not make her appearance, being unwell; 
but she had ordered refreshment to be spread for me, which 
consisted of dried fish, some small pieces of roast meat, excellent 
bread and butter, and, after all, some as excellent coffee. Two 
of my fellow-travellers partook of this repast, and were as 
amused as myself with the discordant aspects and devoirs of our 
attendants ; their assassin-like looks and garb giving them more 
the appearance of banditti than that of serving-men, for they 
were all armed, and had their breast-pouches filled with cart¬ 
ridges. Indeed, it could not but cross me, once or twice, that 
they might eventually prove as savage as they seemed. For, it 
was not improbable that these very people, who were now so 
obsequiously providing for my wants, might, on our advance to 
Kobi, if I gave them opportunity, way-lay and rob, if not abso¬ 
lutely murder me: a mode of farewell, to recently welcomed 
guests, not very uncommon amongst these rapacious moun¬ 
taineers. In their opinions, within the gate, and without it, 
makes all the difference in the rites of hospitality, and therefore 
in the bonds of faith, between host and traveller. 
I was told the old General died rich, and that the greater part 
of his wealth was accumulated in the earlier part of his life, some 
