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98 THE EXPLORATION OF THE CAUCASUS were carried down by the raging torrent. The origin of the mischief" has never, however, been autlioritatively or exactly explained. The sudden bursting of a sub-glacial lake, as in the St. Gervais catastrophe, the creation and subsequent desti'uction of a dam, caused by the fall of an avalanche from some lateral ravine across the glacier torrent ; these are among the obvious hypotheses that have been brought forward. But the bursting of a sub- glacial reservoir is, in the Alps and elsewhere, a very rare event. The Kasbek disaster, early in the present century, was of frequent recurrence, and was believed to recur at periods of seven years. There should, therefore, be something exceptional in the local conditions. Now, as every experienced mountain explorer will note on looking at the photograph here reproduced, the peculiarities of the Devdorak Glacier are its narrowness, steepness, and thickness. The terminal slope is of almost unparalleled height. Is it not probable that the upper and central layers of ice, moving faster than the lower according to the law that governs glaciers, the cave layers, sheer over and fall, temporarily burying and blocking from which the stream issues ? Such accounts as I have found of the conditions preceding a flood speak invariably of an advance of the glacier, and assume it to be the main cause. Dr. Abich expressly attributed the disaster to a fall in the front of the glacier. I put forward, however, this suggestion tentatively. Further local inquiries are very desirable. Bad weather has prevented me from making any detailed examination of the ground myself, but those who desire to do so can now obtain lodging in a house, erected by the Government near the foot of the glacier. Two glens, those of the Lagzdon and Gezeldon, run up to the northern glaciers of Kasbek and its neighbour Gimarai Khokh, a summit of the height of Mont Blanc. For a full description of them the reader must turn to the forthcoming volume of Herr Merzbacher, who was successful in scaling Gimarai Khokh, and also Kasbek, from this side. Close to the glacier at the head of the former glen the German traveller found a curious and primitive bathing establishment. It consists of a few rude stone huts, grouped round a mineral
KASBEK AND THE OSSETE DISTRICT . 99 the Ossetes. The spring, which is much visited in summer hy h;il)it of making medical use of" mineral springs, both for men and animals, is of very early origin. I doubt not that in the Alps, in Roman times, the watei-s of St. Moritz and Bormio were resorted to by shepherds and their flocks. In the Middle Ages we know tliem to have been extremely popular. St. Moritz Water was even stated to be ' an excellent substitute for wine ' a belief not ; encouraged by the modern innkeepers of the Engadine. The most popular of the mountain baths of the Caucasus are situated a few miles above Oni, near the head of the Rion valley. Here in summer there are said to be several hundred visitors, camping out or bivouacking in the most primitive manner. Families also may be found here and there established in tents upon some solitary pasture round an iron or sulphur spring. These are very abundant in the Caucasus, and are always pointed out with great interest by the inhabitants, who show a strong sense of their importance. Gebi is blessed with a peculiarly powerful spring, there is another near Karaul, another in the picturesque valley of the Garasu at the northern base of Tiktengen. These are the health-resorts of the future, waiting to be opened up by some ' Caucasian Spas' Company.' Railroads have not pene- trated the Caucasus without bringing new notions with them. A mountain Prince once offered me a lease of all the minerals, and the exclusive right of keeping hotels, in his territory, on certain conditions. A company promoter might find an opening even in Suanetia ; but I should be soriy to promise his shareholders that they will make their fortunes. The Kolota Pass (10,633 feet) is the only one practicable for horses across the Kasbek Chain. It crosses a saddle connecting the main mass with a small glacier group, of which the most conspicuous peak is known as Tepli. The pass and the peak both await their explorers. It is probable that a grand defile will be discovered in the Fiagdon valley, which leads to the pass from the north. As has been already pointed out, the Kasbek and Tepli Groups form no part of the Caucasian watershed. They are linked to it by a high grassy ridge, which divides the sources of the Terek and Ardon. Over this our route led us in 1868. The Tyrsui Pass, which
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98 THE EXPLORATION OF THE CAUCASUS<br />
were carried down by the raging torrent. The origin of the<br />
mischief" has never, however, been autlioritatively or exactly<br />
explained. The sudden bursting of a sub-glacial lake, as in the<br />
St. Gervais catastrophe, the creation and subsequent desti'uction<br />
of a dam, caused by the fall of an avalanche from some lateral<br />
ravine across the glacier torrent ; these are among the obvious<br />
hypotheses that have been brought forward. But the bursting of<br />
a sub- glacial reservoir is, in the Alps and elsewhere, a very rare<br />
event. The Kasbek disaster, early in the present century, was of<br />
frequent recurrence, and was believed to recur at periods of seven<br />
years. There should, therefore, be something exceptional in the<br />
local conditions. Now, as every experienced mountain explorer<br />
will note on looking at the photograph here reproduced, the<br />
peculiarities of the Devdorak Glacier are its narrowness, steepness,<br />
and thickness. The terminal slope is of almost unparalleled height.<br />
Is it not probable that the upper and central layers<br />
of ice, moving<br />
faster than the lower<br />
according to the law that governs glaciers,<br />
the cave<br />
layers, sheer over and fall, temporarily burying and blocking<br />
from which the stream issues ? Such accounts as I have found<br />
of the conditions preceding a flood speak invariably of an advance<br />
of the glacier, and assume it to be the main cause. Dr. Abich<br />
expressly attributed the disaster to a fall in the front of the glacier.<br />
I put forward, however, this suggestion tentatively. Further local<br />
inquiries are very desirable. Bad weather has prevented me from<br />
making any detailed examination of the ground myself, but those<br />
who desire to do so can now obtain lodging in a house, erected<br />
by the Government near the foot of the glacier.<br />
Two glens, those of the Lagzdon and Gezeldon, run up to the<br />
northern glaciers of Kasbek and its neighbour Gimarai Khokh, a<br />
summit of the height of Mont Blanc. For a full description of<br />
them the reader must turn to the forthcoming volume of Herr<br />
Merzbacher, who was successful in scaling Gimarai Khokh, and also<br />
Kasbek, from this side.<br />
Close to the glacier at the head of the former glen the German<br />
traveller found a curious and primitive bathing establishment.<br />
It consists of a few rude stone huts, grouped<br />
round a mineral