Untitled

22(5 THE EXPLORATION OF THE CAUCASUS
which they promised to do, provided they were not constituted prisoners.
After being repeatedly urged to give themselves up unconditionally for
the easier investigation of the charge preferred against them, a ladder
slung to a long rope was let over the parapet, and the three brothers
descended to the ground, when he who was accused of the murder hurriedly
approached the Chief, and insisting upon kissing him on the naked breast,
pronounced his submission and readiness to follow.
'
This farce being over, fhe brothers were ordered to the front, and as
the party moved off necessarily at a walking pace, a loud voice at a loop-
hole called upon it to halt, under a threat to fire. The explanation offered
by the brothers was, that a man of Ipari who had fled his village for
mui-der, had sworn to defend with his life the murderer of Zaldash, in
retux'n for the protection afforded him from his o^vn enemies. The in-
terpreter
shouted to the scoundrel that no harm was intended to the
brothers, and that they were not being carried off against their will; the
Iparian, however, who kept his rifle levelled,
still threatened to fire and
kill the Chief or the priest, if his friends were not immediately allowed
to reascend the tower. Hereupon the youth pleaded to having sworn to
stand by the runaway of Ipari, proscribed like himself, to the last ex-
tremity, and to avoid further bloodshed begged that he might be permitted
to staj', for the Iparian, he said, would most assuredly fire. The
advantage being decidedly
position, the Chief deemed it prudent
in favour of the bandit in his unassailable
to release the assassin from his
bond, leaving the settlement of the matter to a future occasion, when he
should be better jDrepared to enforce his authority.'
On another occasion two travellers provided with Russian re-
commendations were, despite the Chief's personal remonstrance,
refused lodgings and compelled to sleep under a tree. When we
find a magistrate unable, even when on the spot, to enforce the
simplest order, or to procure provisions for his own party, it is
easy to understand that for ordinary
visitors travel in Suanetia
thirty years ago was not altogether easy.
The danger of this policy of letting ill alone and allowing
government representatives to be insulted with impunity, was
shown in 1875, when a serious outbreak was only averted by
the forbearance of the ofiicials concerned. The survey jweliminary
to a readjustment of the land-tax roused the discontent of the
Suanetians, who surrounded the detachment at Betsho, and prepared