The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-15
A Summer Journey from
New York to Warsaw.
Scenes to BE Witnessed by Way of the
Caucasus, at Rostov-On-the-Don, at Mimi
NovgorOd, and at Moscow.
Hon. chas. A. Dana, in the Sun.


a body of mountains parallel to the
coast of the Black sea, beginning on
the west at Anapa, near the Sea of
Azof and extending in a southeasterly
direction to Cape Apchorn on the Cas-
plan. The length of the mass is about
700 miles, and it's breadth varies from
20 miles to $50. Mount Elbruz, the
highest elevation in Europe, is pretty
nearly in the center of the chain, and
Kasbek, the next in height, is about
60 miles to the east of Elbruz; and
there are a great number of other
peaks of almost equal Importance. The
Russian political divisions, which are
attached to the Caucasus and are gen
orally known as Cis-Caucasia and
Trans Caucasia, make together about
200,0 square miles of territory, with
an aggregate population at present OF
perhaps 100000 souls of various races
and numerous religions. Among the
aboriginal inhabitants of this coun-
try there are said TO be some sixty or
seventy different tribes, speaking as
many different tongues and dialects,
living mainly by agriculture and the
chase and carrying on various domes-
tic manufactures, generally marked
with the stamp of high artistic in
stinct, such as the weaving of rugs and
carpets, the making of a peculiar kind
of silverware ornamented with black
inlaying, known as niello, and the
making of swords and daggers, as well
as of woolen cloth, felt, and articles
of Astrakhan fur. In fact, foreign
manufactures, except those of Central
Asia, seem as yet to have gained very
little foothold in this region. The peo-
pie, as they are seen in the cities and
villages, are apparently, for the most
part, what is called half civilized. They
are very handsome, athletic, and grace
full. The women have always been fa-
NOUS for their beauty, and the Cau-
casian gentleman has all the dstinc-
tion and dignity of appearance and
manners, that belong to the character
of a gentleman in the most civilized
countries.
ONLY ONE ROAD.
In all this region there is, in fact,
only one road leading through the
mountains from south to north, name
ly, the Georgian Military road, so
called. 1t starts in the south from
Tils, passes the foot of Kasbek. and
continues through the Darial Pass to
Vladikavkaz, a distance of POI versts,
or about 130 miles. The railway from
Novorossisk to Rostov- the Don
turns the western extremity of the
mountains, but does not cross them:
and the railway, $50 miles in length,
from Batoum and PotI through Tiflis
to Baku on the Caspian, turns the
southeastern extremity of the range in
the same manner. This railroad, by
the way, running along mountain
gorges, with no well-defined natural
line to follow, is in many places built
on masonry supports, and at almost
every turn is subject to serious dam
age from freshets. But the Georgian
Military road, following almost a di-
rect line, crosses the mountains
through what seems to be the one
available north and south pass; it is
macadamized, about 100 feet in width,
and is kept in perfect condition.
TIFLIs.
The capital of this vast and little
known region is Tihis. with perhaps
$4,000 people, and still growing. as
new buildings going up here and there
afford very sure evidence. This pic
turesque town was the capital of
Georgia in old times, and here the
Russian governor general, the military
authorities, and the judicial tribunals
have their seat. AS BELTS an Alpine
metropolis, it is planted in the valley
of the Kour, a rushing mountain tor
rent which falls sixty feet or more
in its passage through the town, and
occasionally wears away a bit of the
shore and tumbles down q house oi
two. The day we got there the river
had furiously attacked a small island
opposite our hotel. The public excite,
ment was intense. Crowds gathered
on the bridge just below the island
and a gang of laborers We're hard al
work getting out a quantity of good.
that were stored in a wooden build.
ing on the island. The goods were car,
ried away and the building was almos
taken to pieces ready for removal
when the water fell and the danger
was over for the time.
There are no big mountains close a.
hand at Tiflis, but in every direction
the place is surrounded by height,
whose rocks sometimes stand ou
naked and pictorial without any earthN
covering, while one or two have mon
asteries on their SUBMITS, which mus
be very difficult for the monks to climb
On one OF the more gentle among thes,
heights there is the ancient wall of
citadel inclosing perhaps a dozen acre
whose well-grassed interior now per
forms the useful function of pasturin,
few sheep, and serving as a loungin,
place for any unoccupied travellers VIII
may like to wander over it in a pleas
ant afternoon. Just below this on tn
east, is large slope containing what Il
called botanic garden, though IL i
difficult to find among it's alley-way
any great variety of plants or an,
sharp scientific arrangement. In thi
vicinity, also on the steep declivitie
of several hills, are what took to b
the cabins of the early inhabitants
curious bird-cages of abodes, clingin
one above another to the sides and ir
regularities Of the rocks, and reache
from below by queer and erratic stair
ways. In the level-led valley-botom
among these ancient eyrles moderl
streets and rows of buildings hav
everywhere made their way, so tina
there is now very little space in wha
we viii call the native quarter remain
ing to be occupied. But on the sam
side or the river-and l am speaking @
the right-hand bank as you go with tn
stream-are the most important publ
buildings, all modern and substantial
the palaces of the governor general an
OF the military commander the mus
cum, and whole array of public OF
heces, as well as the court house, whic
last had the good fortune to visit /
company, with his excellency the chic
judge. We happened upon a very In
teresting scene in the court house, an
very unusual one, even in Russit
The proclamation of the new czar ar