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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CAUCASUS 47
several species, an Astrantia with piulc stars, delicately veined
in emerald green, a flower which seemed expressly made to decollate
ornamental notepaper or a Valentine. There was also a species of
our Alpine snake-weed, witli loose spikes and petals of such a vivid
crimson that even our servant set to work to gather them for us,
and was quite chagrined to see that w-e neglected them.
' On pushing apart the high stems we discovered another layer
of flowers less eager for light :
forget-me-nots, herb-Paris, orchids,
geraniums, etc. Close to the ground the soil was covered by a
carpet of little round leaves supported l)y
thin stalks like those
of the maidenhair fern ; these w^ere the leaves of a shade-loving
speedwell {Veronica Uliformis, G. M.), which, like our violet,
blooms modestly beneath great green sunshades.
'
I -was debating how to pack my immense nosegay when my
companion called me from above. I clambered in his tracks, and
found him dripping with dew and digging frantically among plants
higher than his head. It was real pioneer w^ork to clear a path
through this antediluvian vegetation, wherein we were like lost
[jilliputians. The high rocky walls, still in the shade, were superb.
Here reigned saxifrages, rock -valerians, enchanter's night-shade,
groundsels, ferns, and succulent mosses as full of water as sponges.
In the air also— for we had to look everywhere — were the winged
fruits of maples, which formed the underwood, looking like bouquets
of flowers, so vividly did their madder colour stand out under the
green cupola of pines. After the first exclamations we collected
our spoils
in silent haste, oblivious of time, forgetful of
we still had to travel. We had to come down at last
the road
and sort
om- treasures, and press those that could be pressed.
'
Our men were in no hurry. They were well content \\\xh
this short halt, seasoned with a pipe under the pines. The horses
grazed at their will, and seemed as pleased as we were to come
across such an El Dorado of tender herbs. They trampled the
sorrel and made wide openings among the monkshoods, massa-
cring indiscriminately both common and rare species,
while we
sat astride a rotten trunk rapidly putting our specimens in paper.
Pressed by the advancing hour, we ended by leaving a heap of