Page:My Climbs in the Alps and Caucasus.djvu/371

318 the spread of luxury, that they had built themselves a rough hut of unhewn stones, roofed with great branches of pine. With the unvarying courtesy of the Tartar, they spread their burkas on the floor and bid us rest beside their fire.

The porter, meanwhile, engaged in negotiations preliminary to the purchase of a lamb, a duty I found it advisable to leave to him, as I am somewhat doubtful about the identification of a lamb, unless duly accompanied by mint sauce and other suitable adjuncts. The only purchase I made on my account was not successful. It was at Bezingi, and the subject of purchase was a chicken. The whole feathered population of the village, each individual held legs uppermost in the hands of its fair proprietress, was passed in review before me. The proper method of selection was indicated by the chief, who prodded the shrieking victims with his finger, occasionally causing such convulsive effort and wing-flapping that, amidst a halo of floating feathers, the subject of purchase would escape, filling the whole village with its cries. Ultimately, after much careful prodding, I decided on three birds, apparently of the most youthful and succulent description. Subsequent sad experience, however, demonstrated the vanity of my efforts. But the porter was never at fault. In the present instance he acquitted himself splendidly; he explained to the shepherds how we had faced many desperate perils together, and