84 
SCENERY OF CAUCASUS. 
to assist in getting the carriage over the very steep hills, and the 
bad road, I was told I should encounter in my way to Kobi. 
This post might be rather more than sixteen wersts from the 
village of Kasibeck. It was now four o’clock in the afternoon, 
with a sky full of portentous clouds; so I had no prospect of 
reaching our night’s lodging before the darkness and impending 
rain must fall about us. However, I had no alternative ; and, 
taking leave of my little host at the deceased General’s, mounted 
my horse, and set forward. The caleche and escort preceded 
me. We descended gradually into a wide valley, crossing the 
Terek over a wooden bridge, at no great distance from the 
village. Here the river totally lost its rapidity and violence, 
flowing gently through the vale, which its refreshing waters 
covered with the finest verdure. The bordering mountains, 
also, at this part, showed luxuriant green, clothing the numerous 
ravines which indented their sides, and gave shelter to clusters 
of picturesque huts, inhabited by Ossitinians, and usually drawn 
around the remains of some old stone tower, which, in ancient 
days, had commanded and protected these minor passes from the 
inroads of hostile tribes. Enlivening as these little establishments 
of domestic peace were in the scene below, what was above menaced 
us poor travellers with very different sensations. The heads of 
the mountains were totally swallowed up in black clouds, which 
were sinking heavily down their sides, and casting so dark, a 
shadow over every object, that night was anticipated before we 
had travelled half our journey. The rain, which had so long 
threatened, came on in torrents ; and, as may easily be con¬ 
ceived, increased the evils of the severe steeps which lay in our 
way, like a succession of furrows in a ploughed field; and up 
and down which the caleche was dragged with such often- 
