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.
