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nion, there could be no orthodox objection at any time; and, to the great scandal of the other, gorged himself day and night during the whole Rhamazan.

I mention this incident, trifling as it may appear, to show, unless control be exercised on one side or another, how difficult it is for people, who are the mere creatures of their respective habits and appetites, to live in harmony together. Every difference of this sort is a point of collision, and the reader may thence form some opinion as to the practicability of establishing independent bodies of Poles in the Caucasus.

As we understood it would take at least two or three weeks to administer the oath to all the inhabitants of this district, we accepted the invitation of Shahin- Gheri to pass the interval at his house. We retired, therefore, on the 3rd of December, to the Happle, where he lived in the best style of the country, and where he now spared no pains to make us comfortable. The chief appliances to this purpose, at this season of the year, were an abundance of winter provision for man and horse, a large stock of coverlids, couches, &c.; and, what was still more important, a stack of firewood which, as it may be had in any quantity for the cutting, is heaped with an unsparing hand on the pile, that is kept blazing

WINTER QUARTERS AT SHAHIN-GHERI'S.

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night and day upon the hearth of the guesthouse. These large fires were highly desirable -for, not to mention the slightness of the building itself, the door, which hospitality forbids our host to close, remains open during the whole day, even in the depth of winter. We were attended to our new quarters by our youthful squire, Chenetlook. The freedman Ougasoff had been despatched, by Shahin - Gheri, with the olive branch and terms of accommodation to Shamiz at Semez. Chenetlook, in the mean while, having for the present abandoned all idea of shooting his uncle, did not hesitate to take up his abode with him, delighted, apparently, to renew acquaintance with his son, a youth of his own age and standing. The lads, as is customary here, swore eternal friendship, and were thenceforward inseparables-pursuing their sports together during the day, and sleeping on the same mat at night. They had, moreover, in the course of a week, exchanged not only the vows aforesaid, but, more majorum, almost every article of their accoutrements and wearing apparel.

We were not the only guests at the house of Shahin-Gheri. We found, temporarily established there, a Tocav from Natu-koitch, who had offended against the laws by intermarrying

into his own tribe-that of Natquo. He had eloped with his bride into this part of the country, and was now living under the protection of Shahin-Gheri.

MR. BELL RETURNS TO NATU KOITCH.

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CHAPTER XV.

Administration of the Oath-Squabbles among the Yebers-Inaction of the Circassians-Their gathering for an inroad into the Russian territory-The nocturnal march-The result.

THE weather had now become exceedingly severe, the thermometer being at sixteen degrees below zero Fahrenheit, and the whole landscape swathed thickly in snow. We were left, notwithstanding our snug winter-quarters, by Mr. Bell. He returned to Natu-koitch for the twofold purpose of visiting Mansour, who had suffered a relapse since our departure, and of summoning a fresh force among the chiefs and elders, in order to relieve the Yebers who had come with us, and whose protracted absence from their families at this season of the year was attended with great inconvenience to them.

The administration of the oath to the people of Azips occupied upwards of a month, in the course of which Nadir and myself went frequently to witness the proceedings. Our reception on these occasions was kind and even cordial; the popular tide had now turned in our favour. The multitude, I believe, rarely trouble themselves about consistency; and it would certainly have been invidious to inquire too nicely what had become of those who opposed us so fiercely a week before, since we should, in all probability, have identified them with the very persons who were now the foremost to welcome us. The Circassians, I should add, are not a vindictive race; and this, as I have before observed, is in great measure owing to the nature of their customs, which do not even exact blood for blood, unless other compensation has been withheld. The ceremony of taking the oath, which was curious to us as spectators, had a deep and thrilling interest for those who were engaged in it. We perceived, on first attending it, what was meant by hanging the Koran. Two copies of that book were suspended by cords to a wooden frame erected in the snow. It had, to our eyes, much the look of a gibbet, but was regarded with feelings of the profoundest veneration by the superstitious multitude. Even those who

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