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128 THE EXPLORATION OF THE CAUCASUS unreadable. I shall be content to generally succeed in becoming summarise only some of the chief indications of the new survey. In this group it shows one peak over 15,000, nine over 14,000 feet. The lowest pass over the main chain fells just under 11,000 feet. About sixty-five square miles are covered with snow and ice. The Karagom Glacier is ten miles, the Zea Glacier six, and the Songuta Glacier three and a half miles in length. In 1868, when the three young Englishmen whose travels are recorded in my Central Caucasus undertook to examine amhulando the nature of the chain between Kasbek and Elbruz, t,he second object of their journey was the exploration of this Adai Khokh Group. We had no trustworthy map to guide us at that date. Our information was limited to the notes, mainly archfeological, of Brosset, to a very confused notice in Klaproth of the snow-passes between Stir-Digor and Gebi,^ and to the vague indications and blue smears of the five-verst majj. The excursions of Dr. Abich and Dr. Radde had been limited to the lower ends of the two great frozen streams which, issuing from far invisible and unknown fountains in the recesses of the range, stretch their icy tongues down into the forest region. One of these, the Zea Glacier, flows into a glen some ten miles long that opens on the Ardon valley at St. Nikolai. Beyond the of men or the tracks of hunters all was obscure. paths Our intention in 1868 was to have gone up the Zea valley, and crossed from its head to the Mamison. But the difliculties we experienced with the inhabitants in traversing the deep and isolated basins that hold the sources of the Nardon made us give up a project which involved separation from our baggage. Consequently we carried out but half our plan, and were content, in the first instance, to ci'oss the Mamison to the soutliern side. We found ourselves at Chiora in the liion valley, at the foot of a native glacier pass, leading to the north side of the chain. ' The best explanation tliat has been given of Khiproth's very curious description of the passage with liorses of the Gebi Passes— the Giirdzivsek, and Gebivsek or Gezevsek (new map)^ls that he took down hearsay information and turned it into a narrative in the first person.
THE ADAl KHOKH GROUP 129 It seemed, according to the map, to descend by a side glen on to the great glacier referred to by Abich. At that time passes were still as niucli in vogue with climbers as peaks. We saw pleasing prospects of adventure and discovery in crossing the nati\'e j^ass, and finding a way for ourselves back over the unknown snowfields farther east. Our interpreter and luggage were abandoned, and we started in the lightest marching order. Leaving Chiora before da}l)reak, we wandered over pastures where the birches waved their delicate branches in the first breath of dawn, while the moonlight still shone on the upper snows. Shepherds' fires shone at intervals through the dusk, and the native who was carrying our provisions up to the snow led us a long circuit in order to visit some of his friends who were camping out with their flocks. In the Caucasus the peasants take far less pains than in the Alps to make themselves at home in their sununer (quarters. They have more sheep and horses, and far fewer dairies. It is only rarely, and on the north side, that huts answering to an Alpine chalet are found. In general, the herdsmen are contented with a slight shelter ; an overhanging crag, a hollow under an erratic boulder, or a few boughs with a sheepskin thrown over them. Close at hand a forked stick is thrust in the ground, on which the owner, when at home, hangs his gun. Two more sticks and a crossbar support a pail. This is a Caucasian Kosh, a place where men sleep or rest, the gias or (jite of the Western Alps. That in so moist and variable a climate as that of the Central Caucasus the shepherds should not suffer more from exposure says much for the general healthiness of the highlands. Not long ago, similar natural shelters were used by Bergamasque shepherds in the Engadine. There are t\\'o, close to the Club-huts of Boval and the Roseg Glacier, where names or initials and ancient dates are carved on the rocks. Up and down, or along ridges, our track led us, till it descended into a beautiful meadow, surrounded by trees, where a bright spring bubbled up amongst flowery grass under a clump of alders. This spot, called on the one-verst map Notsanzara, served as VOL. I. I
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THE ADAl KHOKH GROUP 129<br />
It seemed, according to the map, to descend by a side glen<br />
on to the great glacier referred to by Abich. At that time<br />
passes were still as niucli in vogue with climbers as peaks.<br />
We saw pleasing prospects of adventure and discovery in<br />
crossing the nati\'e j^ass, and finding a way<br />
for ourselves<br />
back over the unknown snowfields farther east. Our interpreter<br />
and luggage were abandoned, and we started in the lightest<br />
marching order.<br />
Leaving Chiora before da}l)reak, we wandered over pastures<br />
where the birches waved their delicate branches in the first breath<br />
of dawn, while the moonlight still shone on the upper snows.<br />
Shepherds' fires shone at intervals through the dusk, and the<br />
native who was carrying our provisions up to the snow led us a<br />
long circuit in order to visit some of his friends who were camping<br />
out with their flocks. In the Caucasus the peasants take far<br />
less pains than in the Alps to make themselves at home in their<br />
sununer (quarters. They have more sheep and horses, and far<br />
fewer dairies. It is only rarely, and on the north side, that<br />
huts answering to an Alpine chalet are found. In general, the<br />
herdsmen are contented with a slight shelter ; an overhanging<br />
crag, a hollow under an erratic boulder, or a few boughs with<br />
a sheepskin thrown over them. Close at hand a forked stick is<br />
thrust in the ground, on which the owner, when at home, hangs<br />
his gun. Two more sticks and a crossbar support a pail. This<br />
is a Caucasian Kosh, a place where men sleep or rest, the gias<br />
or (jite of the Western Alps. That in so moist and variable a<br />
climate as that of the Central Caucasus the shepherds should not<br />
suffer more from exposure says much for the general healthiness<br />
of the highlands. Not long ago, similar natural shelters were<br />
used by Bergamasque shepherds in the Engadine. There are t\\'o,<br />
close to the Club-huts of Boval and the Roseg Glacier, where<br />
names or initials and ancient dates are carved on the rocks.<br />
Up and down, or along ridges, our track led us, till it descended<br />
into a beautiful meadow, surrounded by trees, where a bright<br />
spring bubbled up amongst flowery grass under a clump of alders.<br />
This spot, called on the one-verst map Notsanzara, served as<br />
VOL. I. I