86 
KOBI. 
protected by earthen embankments, pallisadoes, and a shallow 
ditch. A few dirty rooms, totally devoid of furniture, are set 
apart for the reception of travellers. In one of these, thanks 
to the gentlemen of the convoy who had preceded me, I 
found an excellent fire ; and, after drying and refreshing myself, 
I retired to my poor maimed vehicle to sleep ; preferring 
its inconvenience to the vermin and damps of the quarters 
within. It grew excessively cold during the night ; and on 
looking at the thermometer, I found it nine degrees below the 
freezing point, according to Reaumur. A severe frost had now 
succeeded the milder weather ; and, on getting out of the caleche 
at day-dawn, I saw nothing on all sides but lofty mountains 
covered with snow. The same garb of winter reached to the 
very gates of Kobi, not a footstep having yet broken its pale 
surface ; nor could I discern, by any guiding mark, in which 
direction the road lay, that was to commence the greatest diffi¬ 
culties we had yet surmounted, by taking us over the Krista- 
waja and Kaschour. 
Not far beyond Kobi, our old companion, the Terek, is 
augmented by the waters of the Titri Dskali, and, immediately 
on this junction, makes a turn, and flows from the west for about 
thirty-five wersts, in a north-east direction. The source of this 
magnificent river, of which we now took our leave, — magnifi¬ 
cent in the length of its course, and in the scenery through 
which it flows, — takes its rise in the upper valleys of the 
southern side of the Kasibeck, a fountain-head worthy the 
destination of the stream. 
The many cheerful-looking villages scattered over this part of 
the country, which give a show of neighbourhood to Kobi, are 
inhabited by Ossi of Mahometan and Pagan tribes. But those 
who call themselves Mussulmen, like their brethren who arrogate 
