I refrained from letting drive at seven gigantic cranes, who, regardless of our presence, continued to wade less than two hundred yards distant, which was a sore temptation, as they appeared of a rare kind, and I would have got them all in line with a little judicious stalking.

There could be no doubt of our being on the track of the right party, as in several places I perceived the trail of my baggage-pony, which was shod with the broad Turkish shoe on the fore-feet, whereas none of the other animals had any. Towards noon, after clambering up the steep rocky side of a low ridge of hills, I perceived, in the ravine below, a light column of smoke curling up from some broken ground, and, after a careful investigation with my field-glass, I saw several horses with their fore-feet hobbled, grazing by the banks of a small stream, which, I had no doubt, belonged to the marauders.

After a brief consultation with my followers, I directed Kuchuc and three others to accompany me in a reconnaissance, whilst the rest of the party took charge of the horses and kept a look-out on the road. As my men were well armed, and I could fully depend upon their pluck, I did not much fear the result of a contest, but was rather afraid lest the pillagers, knowing the country, might slip through our hand with their booty, so I struck off from the tract and made a circuitous route by crossing the ravine

some distance below the place where I saw the smoke, and again gaining it on the opposite height, from whence, with the aid of my glass, I could see the objects of our search, reclining round a fire, apparently very jolly on the strength of their success.

After having made as careful a survey as the wooded nature of the ground would allow, we advanced towards them as noiselessly as possible, keeping well under cover, until we came to the edge of the open, where the horses were grazing, from whence we got a full view of the party, which appeared to be five in number; one of whom was washing his mouth in the stream, a second superintending the cooking, and the others smoking and lolling about on the ground, evidently quite unsuspicious of danger.

Knowing the effect of a surprise, I determined, if possible, to accomplish our purpose without bloodshed, and, observing their rude fire-arms resting against a boulder of rock, I resolved to get as near as possible by stalking and then make a simultaneous dash.

By dint of creeping on our hands and knees, and taking advantage of the cover of bushes, rocks, and undulations in the ground, we got to within a dozen yards of the three fellows lying down, on whom we made a rush, and, after a momentary struggle, overpowered by laying about us with the butt-end of our rifles. The two others bolted into the jungle on the

first alarm, where further pursuit was useless, and a sixth, who was acting as scout a short distance in the rear, fell into the hands of our other party.

Having disarmed and pinioned our prisoners, one of whom had his arm broken in the scuffle, and secured the horses (ten in number, including our own recaptured), we rejoined the rest of the party, and after a hasty meal set out on our return.

Our captives, who were a sullen, “ill-favoured, hang-dog looking" set of fellows, proved to belong to a mountain tribe from the other side of Pitzounda, who were returning from an unsuccessful foray in Mingrelia, when they caught sight of our cattle and attempted a razée.

We arrived in camp late in the afternoon, and great was the old Bey's joy at the recovery of his animals, which he had made up his mind he would never see again. The prisoners were all recognised as being old offenders; and, according to the law of the tribes, as the mildest punishment, would have been sold as slaves in the interior; but this I would not allow, as I intended, by making an example, to deter another attempt being made on my cattle: so the gang, after branding each of them indelibly with a heated horse-shoe, on the right shoulder, turned them adrift, minus their arms, horses, and kalpacs (high caps of black sheepskin), warning them that they might expect no mercy if found again anywhere near our camp.

The Bey had heard of another bear, and had sent out some of his people to make sure of his whereabouts; but, as the haunt was said to be nearer the "konac" than where we were, it was determined to return there on the morrow. I selected one of the captured horses for my own use, presented another to the Bey, a third to the herdsman, who showed me the bear's haunt, and then gave the others, with the captured arms, as prizes to the best marksmen in the tribe.

On the sale of Circassian females, and extenuating circumstances. -Their character.-An exploring trip premeditated.—The start.-A Russian fort.-Bustard-shooting.-Forest scenery.Difficulties en route.-Trout-fishing.-Mosquitoes.-A lovely valley.-Wild-cattle hunt.-An awkward predicament.-A bull and cow slain. Mode of preserving the flesh.-More game afoot.-The ascent of the first range.-Mountain scenery. -Mount El-Bruz in the distance.-Difficult travelling.-A bear started.-A long shot.-Strange feelings.—A frightful chasm, and exciting moment.-Journey along the ridge. The descent.-Wolves.-A Circassian hamlet.-Hospitality.—A noble race.--A Durbar, and the result of our consultation.

AMONGST the various localities to which erratic

fate has directed my steps, there are few that have so many agreeable souvenirs associated in my recollection as Circassia; and I wonder that more travellers and sportsmen do not turn their wanderings towards a country which although pre-eminent throughout the world for magnificence of scenery, is yet a terra incognita. In these days of steam and rail, it were an easy matter for the lover of the pictu