transport his goods--to
force labourers to work in his fields, or to go as messengers, &c.,
is an affair of every day. The inhabitants of Khounzakh are not more
wealthy than the rest of their countrymen; their houses are clean,
and, for the most part, have two stories, the men are well made, the
women handsome, chiefly because the greater number of them are
Georgian prisoners. In Avar, they study the Arabic language, and the
style of their educated men is in consequence very flowery. The Haram
of the Khan is always crowded with guests and petitioners, who,
after the Asiatic manner, dare not present themselves without a
present--be it but a dozen of eggs. The Khan's noukers, on the
number and bravery of whom he depends for his power, fill from
morning to night his courts and chambers, always with loaded pistols
in their belt, and daggers at their waist. The favourite Ouzdens and
guests, Tchetchenetzes or Tartars, generally present themselves every
morning to salute the Khan, whence they depart in a crowd to the
Khansha, sometimes passing the whole day in banqueting in separate
chambers, regaling even during the Khan's absence. One day there
came into the company an Ouzden of Avar, who related the news that
an immense tiger had been seen not far off, and that two of their
best shots had fallen victims to its fierceness. "This has so
frightened our hunters," he said, "that nobody likes to attempt the
adventure a third time."

"I will try my luck," cried Ammalat, burning with impatience to show
his prowess before the mountaineers. "Only put me on the trail of the
beast!" A broad-shouldered Avaretz measured with his eye our bold
Bek from head to foot, and said with a smile: "A tiger is not like a
boar of Daghestan, Ammalat! His trail sometimes leads to death!"

"Do you think," answered he haughtily, "that on that slippery path
my head would turn, or my hand tremble? I invite you not to help me:
I invite you but to witness my combat with the tiger. I hope you will
then allow, that if the heart of an Avaretz is firm as the granite
of his mountains, the heart of a Daghestanetz is tenpered like his
famous _boulat_. [18] Do you consent?"

[Footnote 18: A species of highly tempered steel, manufactured, and
much prized, by the Tartars.]

The Avaretz was caught. To have refused would have been shameful:
so, clearing up his face, he stretched out his hand to Ammalat.
"I will willingly go with you," he replied. "Let us not delay