KASHOUR. 
93 
When we arrived on the lower plain of mountains, (if I may 
be allowed the expression,) their character became less wild, 
taking rounder forms, finely wooded and covered with rich 
verdure, presenting but seldom those bold and savage rocks to 
which I had lately been so accustomed. At four o’clock (P. M.) 
we reached the fort of Kashour, which commands the valley and 
road leading towards Tiflis. It is built on part of the ruins of 
an ancient Georgian strong-hold ; the lofty tower and moulder¬ 
ing walls of which, preserve majestic memorials of its former 
consequence. These silent testimonials of empires long sunk in 
tlie dust, may be seen crumbling into the same oblivion, on 
almost every point of the surrounding hills. They form inte¬ 
resting objects in this romantic scenery ; an apparition in the 
wilderness, which tells of long-forgotten greatness. 
At six o’clock in the morning of October 7th (O. S.), we left 
Kashour, attended by our usual escort of infantry and Cossacks ; 
and, after a short descent, crossed the Aragua over a small but 
well-built stone bridge. The river at this point, is not more 
than from twenty to thirty feet wide, and flows with a gentle 
stream. The valley is richly wooded on both sides ; its eastern 
bank being cleft into numerous glens, which run deep into the 
bosom of that part of the mountain, the shelters of an industrious 
as well as hardy race of Ossitinians. These little vales are co¬ 
vered every where with villages, whose lowly but cheerful abodes, 
are picturesquely opposed, to the dilapidated forms of the ruined 
turrets which are usually their neighbours. A rushing torrent, 
from the higher lands, commonly divides the village ; adding to 
its beauty, and much increasing its comfort. The proofs of 
considerable cultivation were very observable. They grow mil¬ 
let, barley, onions, and tobacco ; and breed sheep and goats, to 
