THE CAUCASUS. 
151 
from my own investigations ; and also some new information 
on the subject, arising from the natural changes of time and in¬ 
cidental circumstances. 
i 
We may consider the numerous ranges of Caucasus, as taking 
their rise from one immense body, or root of mountains, which 
stretches itself diagonally across that vast tract of land which lies 
between the Euxine and Caspian seas. This parent stem rises 
boldly to the westward, in the neighbourhood of the Turkish 
post of Anapa, then takes a sweep nearly in the form of the 
eastern shore of the Euxine, though considerably to its rear, and 
runs along as far as the confines of ancient Colchis, now called 
Xmmeretia. Thence it suddenly stretches in a line almost di¬ 
rectly east, for upwards of 300 wersts ; then it shoots off to the 
south-east, taking the shape of the western shore of the Caspian, 
and terminating amidst the sublime ruins of the Guebre altars 
at Badku. This principal range boasts the gigantic Elborus and 
Kasibeck, towering over the loftiest summits of its other moun¬ 
tains, as the main bulwarks of a great fortress stand higher than 
its battlements. The heads of these two celebrated mountains 
are almost always obscured with clouds; and when they are par¬ 
tially discerned by the exhalation, or rolling away of their fleecy 
covering, winter or summer, still we see an eternal snow upon 
their peaks. But the effects produced by the action of light, on 
this pure and elevated surface, at the rising or setting sun; or in 
the beam of the moon, while the shadows of the clouds are pass¬ 
ing away; or when quite gone, have left the mountain’s head 
like a pyramid of silver, or tinged with a thousand aerial 
colours ; are not to be described, for beauty and sublimity. Be¬ 
neath these two mountains, rise the glittering peaks of others, 
still far above the line denominated the region of snow, and 
