I was advised to ride from Tebris to Natschivan with post-horses,
and to take a servant with me as far as that place. I did so, and
commenced my journey at 9 o'clock in the morning of the 11th of
August. Several gentlemen, whose acquaintance I had made in Tebris,
accompanied me about a mile out of the town, and we encamped on the
bank of a beautiful little river, and partook of a cold breakfast.
Then I began my journey alone, indeed, but composedly and with good
courage, for now I thought I was entering a Christian country,
beneath the sceptre of a civilized, European, law and order-loving
monarch.
CHAPTER XXII. ASIATIC RUSSIA - ARMENIA, GEORGIA, AND MINGRELIA.
SOPHIA - MARAND - THE RUSSIAN FRONTIER - NATSCHIVAN - JOURNEY OF THE
CARAVAN - A NIGHT'S IMPRISONMENT - CONTINUATION OF THE JOURNEY -
ERIVAN - THE RUSSIAN POST - THE TARTARS - ARRIVAL IN TIFLIS - SOJOURN
THERE - CONTINUATION OF THE JOURNEY - KUTAIS - MARAND - TRIP ON THE
RIBON - REDUTKALE.
11th August. The stations between Tebris and Natschivan are very
irregular; one of the longest, however, is the first - namely, to the
village of Sophia, which occupied us six hours. The road lay
through valleys, which were, for the most part, barren and
uninhabited.
As it was already 3 o'clock when we reached Sophia, the people there
endeavoured to prevent me from going any further. They pointed to
the sun, and at the same time signified that I might be attacked by
robbers, plundered, and even murdered; but such statements had no
influence with me; and after I had with great trouble ascertained
that it would only require four hours to reach the next station, I
determined to continue my journey; and to the vexation of my
servant, whom I had engaged as far as Natschivan, ordered him to
saddle fresh horses.
Immediately after leaving Sophia, we entered barren, rocky valleys,
which my guide represented as being very dangerous, and which I
should not have liked to pass at night; but as the sun was shining
in full splendour, I urged on my horse, and amused myself by looking
at the beautiful colours and grouping of the rocks. Some were of a
glittering pale green; others covered with a whitish, half
transparent substance; others again terminated in numerous oddly
formed angles, and from the distance looked like beautiful groups of
trees. There was so much to see that I really had no time to think
of fear.
About half-way lay a pretty little village in a valley, and beyond
it rose a steep mountain, on the summit of which a charming prospect
of mountain country kept me gazing for a long while.
We did not reach Marand till nearly 8 o'clock; but still with our
heads, necks, and baggage, all safe.
