upon the fine form of the Vladika must be worth beholding. In
another chest were deposited the crowns of different Vladikas. They
are of a shape resembling the ancient Russian diadem, being not of the
form of any kind of coronet, but a cap all covered or entire, globular
at top, and diminishing towards where they fit the head. Perhaps there
were half a dozen or more. They were richly ornamented with precious
stones--the present Vladika's the most so. I understand they are
presents from St Petersburg. By nine next morning the rain had
somewhat cleared, and the weather was mild and promising. We started,
therefore, hoping that night to reach the quarters of the Vladika,
though no one could speak positively to the place. We made some
enquiries as to the chance of finding shelter, as the nights were
singularly cold; but it was of course apparent that time alone could
decide. None of our friends from the monastery, who had been so
warlike the day before, made their appearance; so we started without
any addition to our party. The road was nearly all on the descent, and
usually so stony and rough as to make riding the mule a matter of
difficulty. We passed by Dobro Skorsello, one of the richest communes
of Montenegro; there figs, vines, and olives are grown: a wild species
of mulberry occurs, and large trees of it frequently appeared before a
hut or hamlet. These are wide-spreading and ancient, but not tall.
This district furnishes seven thousand fighting men. Here we met the
wife of one of the principal senators among a troop of females with
bundles of wood upon their head. We now had the first intelligence
from the camp. Descending into a little plain we met about two hundred
men returning to celebrate a village fete, as their services were not
just then required. They passed in single file; wild, active-looking
fellows they certainly were. In about half an hour after, we
encountered forty or fifty others. These were peculiarly warm in their
friendship, and slapped me so hard on the back that it required my
utmost force to return the compliment with any thing like cordiality.
They took it into their heads that I was a certain long-expected
bombardier who was to direct their artillery against Lessandro, and
they loaded me with compliments and good wishes. I almost, at the
moment, regretted my want of knowledge in the art. About one o'clock
we descended upon the Nariako river, then a rapid clear green stream,
which conducts the