The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-08

mense manufacturing and commercial
activity which marks the business
towns of modern Russia. A railway
leads hence northwardly to Rostoy on
the Don. New buildings seem to be
going forward everywhere, and the pc
trolcum traffic, which has covered the
whole southwestern shore of the Cau-
casian country with a series of the
busiest places in the world, was evil
IDENTIFY in full operation here. But our
hope of seeing the great submits of the
Caucasus was foiled. Both Elbruz and
Kasbek were yelled by clouds, and so
they remained during the whole day.
ANCIENT PHASIS.
Our next stopping place was at Souk-
houmkale, and the next at Poti at the
mouth of the river Rion, likewise a
place of extreme activity, with a branch
of the Trans-Caucasian railway ex-
tending as. far as Kutais, on the way
to Tiflis and the Caspian. The Rion is
the ancient Phasis, and hither the
Argonauts came seeking the Golden
Fleece, and hence they returned after
they had got it. The low lying, malar-
ious looking shores and the turbulent
river, swollen to enormous extent by
the spring freshets from the mountains
justified the description of the poet;
He passed the sea,
And reached a river opening into it,
Across the which the wnite-winged fowl
did fit
From cliff to cliff. and on the sandy bar
The fresh waves and the salt waves were
at war
At turning of the tide"
Now swift beneath the oar strokes Argo
While the sun rose behind them, and they
drew
Unto the rivers mouth, nor failed to see
Absyrtus galley waiting watchiully
BetWiXt them and the whitc-tipped turDid
Therefore they got them ready now for
war
With joyful hearts, for sarp they shifted
the sea
And saw the great waves tumbling green
and free
Outside the bar upon the way to Greece.
The rough greer way to glory and sweet
peace.
| But Jason, roaring as the loness
When round her helpless wheps the hunt
ers press,
Whirled round his read his mighty brass
DOullu SAltdI
That, flying, smote the Prince beneath the
ear,
| As Arcas's arrow sunk into his side.
! Then, falling, scare he met the rushing
| tide
Ere Argos mighty prov had thrust apart
The huddled oars and through the fair
ships heart
Had thrust her iron beak, and the green
wave
Rushed in, as rush the waters through a
| cave
That tunnels half a sea-girt lonely rock.
Then, drawing swiftly backward from
the shock.
! And needing NOT the cries of fear and woe
! They left the waters dealing with their
| foe;
And at the following ship through back
! a shout
And seaward Ger the bar drove Argo out
The gray sky and the heavy mists
| hiding the mountain tops, and even
| obscuring the mighty forests of their
| slopes, We're all sufficiently in harmony
with these classical fancies of the
ancient world; but the pervading odor
! of petroleum and the rush of business
around the shores had nothing poetical
or beautiful in their suggestions; and
we were not sorry when our anchor
was pulled up, and the Colchian hills
behind us grew faint and fainter as our
ship pushed southwark toward Bat
| oum.
BATOUM.
We arrived there in good season the
next morning, and our steamer passed
within the great jetty which protects
the harbor on the west. The anchor
age is extensive and perfectly safe,
with an adequate depth of water but
the place is said to be unwhoesome,
owing to the marshy nature of the
| country for considerable distance in
land. The town is fortified, and a
considerable garrison seems to be kept
there. We saw on all sides the same
indication of active business, and
smelled the same vivid Odor of petrol
cum, which we had observed at the
other ports looking eastward toward
the great mountains and the Caspian.
We soon had the pleasure of a visit
from Mr. James c. Chambers, consul
of the United States, to whom, as well
as to Mr.. Stevens the British vice.
consul we were indebted for many acts
Of courtesy during our brief sojourn
in the town.
Hatoum is entirely modern city in
it's appearance and arrangements, but
all visitors are taken to visit the Zamok
or ruined chateau of Queen Thamara
It's remains occupy the summit of a
moderat outside the town and about
two miles from it's centre. This queen
appears to have been a lady of con-
siderable Importance, and Mr. Fresh
field speaks of her with some enthus-
iasm. Queen Thamara," he says, "the
Charlemange of the Caucasian 18th