Year: 1875

Our road lay along the right bank oil the
river Apsta, which takes its rise in the heart
Of the mountains, aud falls into the Black
Sea. For couple Of hours the road was
fair, as IL is kept open 10 place called Az
hivia, where there are fine mountain pas
lures The inhabitants Of Achandari drive
their cattle here in summer and thus keep
the road in repair further on, the path
becomes more difficult, and about twelve
o'clock we were at the most dangerous spot
for the horses. We had all dismountcd aud
given our horses to the guides who went on
ahead. The path was about one thousand
feet above the river, aud very narrow. We
were walking along, Indian file, picking our
steps carefully, when all at once we heard
the Abhasians shouting and screaming. We
hurried on, but came too late to avert the
catastrophe. Curtius, the gray horse, had
slipped Oft the path on the edge OF the prec-
ipice. For few seconds there was struggle
and q crash amongst the bushes. Then silence
during thetme occupied in falling thousand
feet. The last we heard was a duh thud, aud
all was over. Poor Curtius had ceased TO
live. We wse all more or less frightened.
When the rivers bank was reached, two men
were sent down 10 look for the remains.
They found the horse crushed to jelly; the
skin was torn 10 pieces, and the only sound
part left was the tail, which they cut of and
brought back At one o'clock we had our
lunch, which came near being lost, as 1t had
been placed on Cutius' back, in a pair of
saddle-bags, bat fortunately was not fast
ened to the saddle, so that, when he fell, the
bags caught on the branches Of tree whence
we fished them up At half-pasi tw's clock
we resumed our journey walking most
Of the time, it being impossible to ride.
We kept close to the river Apsta, sometimes
on one bank and sometimes on the other.
During the afternoon, We crossed it about
dozen times. The guides carried me on
their shoulders, wadng through a rapid
stream, which reached to the waist. At
times, the roar of the water was such that it
was not possible to hear person shouting
thirty feet distant. 1t was more difficult
for the horses than for us. At times, they
waded as FAR as half a mile along the bed Of
the river before it was possible 20 find a
path on the shore. At four o'clock we
passed along a ravine Of savage grandeur
/ On the side of the river opposite US, at a
short distance from the rivers edge, cliff,
four or five miles in length, and at least
4 -
a wall. On our side the mountain was much
| higher, but slopiug, and covered with dense
/ growth Of trees and thickets. Amongst the
trees was lockwood form sixteen to eighteen
inches in damater-thc largest have ever
seen.


Along the slope was a number Of boulders,
some of which were from two to three hun
dred feet high-monstrou blocks Of stone,
which had fallen from the mountain at diff
ferent periods. IN the bed Of the river were
rocks os large size, heaped together in the
most singular manner Through these the
water forced its way, Kissing, roaring, foam
ing, as it went on its troubled journey. At
one Of the widest of these spots, We We're
obliged to cross. An Abhasian was sent
forward with horse to try the ford which
was indeed very serious. About one-half of
the horses body was above the water little
more and it would have been impossible to
retain footing. The experiment, however,
proved that the river could be crossed on
condition of being extremely careful.
took my seat on the tallest horse, and with an
attendant on each side, plunged into the
seethng stream. All went well until
reached the middle OF the current, where the
rush of the river was so great that almost lost
my balance. The water reached nearly to my
knees, and the horse was barely able to keep
his footing. My attendants did their duty
WE'LL and kept close to my side. In moment
the critical point was passed, and soon
landed safely on the opposite shore. At six
o'clock we reached a pleasant camping
ground. and stopped for the night.