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25S THE EXPLORATION OF THE CAUCASUS
a zigzag path to the brow on the right, for which Signer Sella got
the name of Mesik. He visited it in October, the day after the
first snowfall. I found the turf enamelled with gentians, forget-
me-nots, and pyrethrums. This crest commands an unique view of
the south-west peak of Ushba, and an almost complete panorama of
Suanetia and its ring of mountains. It will be one of the lady's
walks of the twentieth century, when Caucasian travel is organised,
as Syrian has been for the last fifty years, by the establishment at
Kutais of dragomans with the needful camp-equipment.
I close this record of my rambles in Suanetia with a keen
sense of regret at their incompleteness. As I look once more at
the well-worn sheet of the old five-verst map, I recognise how
many lovely green downs and ridges,
doubtless as beautiful as
those I have tried to describe, remain still unknown to me. I
long for more idle days spent in lounging on a haycock
verge of some fresh -mown glade,
on the
until the sunset fades ofi^' the
crest of Tetnuld, and the stars and the fire-flies come out together.
I am haunted by the faint perfume which the last azalea blossoms
are pouring forth from thickets, under which the lilies and lupines
that have escaped the scythe brighten the borders of the wood. I
even begin to indulge in audacious doubts as to the orographic
insight of my juniors, and to fancy that I might perhaps have
found the way up the maiden peak of Ushba better than great
climbers have done, had I concentrated myself more on the attempt.
When I get to this point I know that I am dreaming, and hasten
to put away my papers and my idle thoughts.