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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
SUANETIA 227 to resist in force their relief over the Latpari Pass from Mingrelia. The Russians thi-ew 300 Kabardan Militia into the valley by the Betsho Pass. Captain Telfer has related from Russian sources the story of the disturbance and its suppression, which was effected without any fighting, except in the dislodgment of an obstinate ringleader from his tower, where he had to be formally bombarded with a howitzer. Even this warning, however, did not suthce to convince the Government of the expediency of impressing its strength on the handful of unruly mountaineers. Temporary tranquillity was j)nr- chased by concessions, and no force adequate to overawe the tur- bulent communities was left in the district. Tlie result was lamentable. During the summer of 1876 a small detachment of soldiers was sent to Kala, a group of villages at the northern foot of the Latpari Pass, to arrest a fugitive criminal. The Suanetians fled to their towers and took up arms in defence of the right of asylum. At nightfall the Russian force retreated from the hamlet, having lost its three officers, and leaving dead Colonel Hrinevsky, 'the Chief of Captain Telfer's narrative, and his intei'preter, who were shot through the roof of a barn. Such an outrage was too much even for the patience of the Caucasian authorities. The Government inflicted an adequate, but by no means excessive retribution, made a great many good resolves as to new roads and other measures, and tightened to some extent, as it might well have done earlier, the reins of administration. Troops and moun- tain-guns crossed the Latpari. At first the Suanetians from their towers defied the invader, after the manner of Orientals ; but they had reckoned without artillery. the stones about their ears. The mountain-guns soon brought Iprari is now a collection of barns without towers ; its teeth are drawn. A certain number of its inhabitants have had experiences of Siberia, and, strange to say, returned to tell them. The authorities at Vladikavkaz are less lenient than those of Tiflis. A late connnandant of Ciscaucasia justified the capital punishment of brigands by the judicious remark that to send men from the climate of the mountains to Siberia would be to put a premium on crime !
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SUANETIA 227<br />
to resist in force their relief over the Latpari Pass from Mingrelia.<br />
The Russians thi-ew 300 Kabardan Militia into the valley by the<br />
Betsho Pass. Captain Telfer has related from Russian sources the<br />
story of the disturbance and its suppression, which was effected<br />
without any fighting, except in the dislodgment of an obstinate<br />
ringleader from his tower, where he had to be formally bombarded<br />
with a howitzer.<br />
Even this warning, however, did not suthce to convince the<br />
Government of the expediency of impressing its strength on the<br />
handful of unruly mountaineers. Temporary tranquillity was j)nr-<br />
chased by concessions, and no force adequate to overawe the tur-<br />
bulent communities was left in the district. Tlie result was<br />
lamentable. During<br />
the summer of 1876 a small detachment of<br />
soldiers was sent to Kala, a group of villages at the northern foot<br />
of the Latpari Pass, to arrest a fugitive criminal. The Suanetians<br />
fled to their towers and took up arms in defence of the right of<br />
asylum.<br />
At nightfall the Russian force retreated from the hamlet,<br />
having lost its three officers, and leaving dead Colonel Hrinevsky,<br />
'the Chief of Captain Telfer's narrative, and his intei'preter, who<br />
were shot through the roof of a barn. Such an outrage was too<br />
much even for the patience of the Caucasian authorities. The<br />
Government inflicted an adequate, but by no means excessive<br />
retribution, made a great many good resolves as to new roads and<br />
other measures, and tightened to some extent, as it might well<br />
have done earlier, the reins of administration. Troops<br />
and moun-<br />
tain-guns crossed the Latpari. At first the Suanetians from their<br />
towers defied the invader, after the manner of Orientals ; but they<br />
had reckoned without artillery.<br />
the stones about their ears.<br />
The mountain-guns soon brought<br />
Iprari<br />
is now a collection of barns<br />
without towers ; its teeth are drawn. A certain number of its<br />
inhabitants have had experiences of Siberia, and, strange to say,<br />
returned to tell them. The authorities at Vladikavkaz are less<br />
lenient than those of Tiflis. A late connnandant of Ciscaucasia<br />
justified the capital punishment of brigands by the judicious remark<br />
that to send men from the climate of the mountains to Siberia<br />
would be to put a premium on crime !