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166 sixteenth century under the rule of Amurah at the time of the Ottoman dominion.

A very Georgian repast, consisting of an acid soup, a kind of chicken broth, a ragout seasoned with acid, saffron-flavoured milk; a repast little appreciated by two Turks and a Dutchman. The party left the town at 9 a.m.

Having passed the pretty little town of Kélasouri, built in the shady valley of Kelassur, the travellers crossed the Kodor twenty-seven versts from Soukhoum-Kalé. The chaise skirted enormous groves of trees which one might compare to virgin forests (with inextricable jungles and thick scrub, penetrable only by water or fire; and in which were swarms of serpents, wolves, bears, and jackals), forming a corner of tropical America planted upon the shore of the Black Sea. But already the axe of the explorer is heard in these forests, which centuries have left untouched; and the beautiful trees will disappear ere long into the framework of houses or ships.

Otchemchiri, the chief place of the district, which includes Kodor and Samourzakan, is an important maritime town situated upon two streams: Ilori, whose Byzantine church is worth seeing, but could not be visited by our travellers, who were pressed for time; Gajida and Anaklifa were all passed during that day's travel, one of the longest and most rapid portions of the journey as regards the time and the pace. But about eleven o'clock in the evening, the travellers reached the frontier of Abkasia, passed the river Ingour, and twenty-five versts farther on stopped at Redout-Kalé, the chief town of Mingrelia, one of the provinces of the government of Koutaïs.

The remainder of the night was passed in sleeping. Tired though he was, Van Mitten rose early with a view to see something before they started again. But he found Ahmet already stirring, though Kéraban was still asleep in the fairly good room which had been assigned him at the principal hotel. "Out of bed already?" said Van Mitten, when he perceived Ahmet. "Is my young friend inclined to join me in a stroll this morning?"

"Have I time for it, M. Van Mitten?" said Ahmet. "Must I not replenish our stores for the journey? We shall soon pass the Russo-Turkish frontier, and it will not