ped Mahomet, and even now they are but cool Moslems;
they drink brandy, they drink booza, [16] and occasionally wine made
of grapes, but most ordinarily a sort of boiled wine, called among
them djapa. The truth of an Avaretz's word has passed into a proverb
among the mountains. At home, they are peaceful, hospitable, and
benevolent; they do not conceal their wives and daughters; for their
guest they are ready to die, and to revenge to the end of the
generation. Revenge, among them, is sacred; plundering, glory; and
they are often forced by necessity to brigandize.

[Footnote 16: A species of drink used by the Tartars, produced by
fermenting oats.]

Passing over the summit of Atala and Tkhezerouk, across the crests of
Tourpi-Taou, in Kakhetia, beyond the river Alazan, they find
employment at a very low price; occasionally remaining two or three
days together without work, and then, at an agreement among
themselves, they rush like famished wolves, by night, into the
neighbouring villages, and, if they succeed, drive away the cattle,
carry off the women, make prisoners, and will often perish in an
unequal combat. Their invasions into the Russian limits ceased from
the time when Azlan Khan retained possession of the defiles which
lead into his territories from Avar. But the village of Khounzakh,
or Avar, at the eastern extremity of the Avar country, has ever
remained the heritage of the khans, and their command there is law.
Besides, though he has the right to order his noukers to cut to
pieces with their kinjals [17] any inhabitant of Khounzakh, nay,
any passer-by, the Khan cannot lay any tax or impost upon the people,
and must content himself with the revenues arising from his flocks,
and the fields cultivated by his karavashes (slaves,) or yezeers
(prisoners.)

[Footnote 17: Dagger or poniard. These weapons are of various forms,
and generally much more formidable than would be suggested to an
European by the name dagger. The kinjal is used with wonderful force
and dexterity by the mountaineers, whose national weapon it may be
said to be; it is sometimes employed even as a missile. It is worn
suspended in a slanting direction in the girdle, not on the side,
but in front of the body.]

Without, however, taking any direct imposts, the khans do not
abstain from exacting dues, sanctified rather by force than custom.
For the Khan to take from their home a young man or a girl--to
command a waggon with oxen or buffaloes to