File:All the Russias- travels and studies in contemporary European Russia, Finland, Siberia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia (1902) (14781840124).jpg

Identifier: allrussiastravel01norm (find matches)
Title: All the Russias: travels and studies in contemporary European Russia, Finland, Siberia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Norman, Henry, 1858-1939
Subjects: Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910 Eastern question (Central Asia)
Publisher: New York, C. Seribner's sons
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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and to carry the greatweight of her power. At the top of the Pass is a small cross upon the hill-side,standing out in black relief upon a snowy shoulder. Many gen-erations ago it was set to mark the summit—7,977 feet, and bythe road is one of later date. This, then, is the second time dur-ing my present journey that I have crossed a montain-rangefrom Europe into Asia. No Alpine pass, except the Stelvio,which is 9,040 feet high, is so high as this. Seldom can it begiven to anyone to see great mountains in more exquisite aspectthan I saw these at the top of that pass. Peak after peak bit-ing the sky in sharp outline; snow but a few hours old, sun and THE GEORGIAN ROAD 197 heavens dazzlingly clear and deeply 1)lue; the air keen and in-toxicating; once more the never-failing though so often tastedintoxication of the East in front—it was one of the days of a life-time. Then came the wild rush from the water-parting to the val-ley. Two fresh horses and a hilarious driver, whom I encour-
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Crosslng the Summit of the Georg:ian Road. aged by the promise of a rouble if he drove well, carried us atbreakneck speed down a road zigzagging like the lacing of a foot-ball. On the north the range is barren and deserted, on thesouth it is green, with quaint villages nestling in fertile valleysand little haystacks by the thousand telling of a fragrant sum-mer past. At full gallop down the slopes, with a sickening swinground each corner, both inside wheels ofi the ground, we came, 198 ALL THE RUSSIAS the driver, shouting in glee and swishing his savage little whip,looking back with a smile for approval as we just escaped goingwholesale and headlong over the cliff at each turn. Havingpromised him one rouble to go fast I would gladly have givenhim several to go slow, but his own enjoyment was far too keento heed our breathless protests. The vegetation on this southern side began with a sudden-ness almost unbelievable; first that obstinate and crouching Ht-tle fir-tree, ascetic as a fak

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