1 458 BATTLES WITH' THE VIZEERBEa
2 de^ to get first through the passes in the hills. At last they join the
3 confused mass of tents, men, aad c«ttle» which are heaped together
4 at Kun/oor.
5 The whole fmsemblage aniouiiLs to more than thirtv thousand peo-
6 ple, with all their numberless floeki> and iierds of c aim and indeed
7 with all their pot^^e&siuns. The bustle and disorder ol such a throng
8 Miav well be conceived, ■
9 ljurmg the day, they issue forth in swarms to search for forage and
10 fire-wood ; and at nightfall, these unfrequented valleys resound with
11 ^ oomfiiMd voieet.of die mnltitade^ the bleating aad'laving of
12 tfaeir floclcs and heids* the bosne roar of' the esmelf and die ahouia
13 Mid aongs of the Nanaaeia.
14 When the ididle division is assembled^ CUwaditoeBeie appouitedl»
15 and they renew their pxogress towaidB Damaiin.
16 Ihe Viaeeieeiy in the mean dm^' are peqpaiing Ibr their reeeption
17 wtdi all the cautKRi and secrecy- of savage war:' th«r dans sie aa-
18 in the d^|>ths of the mountains^ and a single* scout, perliaps»
19 watches on the brow of a rock, and listens in the sUence of that deso-
20 late region, for the hum of the approaching crowd, till, at length,
21 the Naussers are heard, and the valleys are filled with the stream of
22 men and flocks that pours down the bed and banks of the GomuL
23 The word is then passed round to the Vizeefees, who liasten to the
24 defiles by paths known only to themselves, and attack, the di^rderly
25 crowds or lie in ambusli to cut off the stragglers, accordinnr to tlu* re-
26 missness or vigilance they observe among then eniMiuL-s, Durnig this
27 time of danger, which lasts a week or ten days, tlie Naussers are in
28 ail uijubuai state of" ]>reparation ; the power of the Chchvashtees sup-
29 presses all feuds, and arranges the order of march, and the means of
30 defence ; the whole division movc» in a body ; parties of chosen men
31 protect' the. fipont, the flanha, and the rear, whDe die otfwT'Naunen
32 dfttre.oii die sheep and camaSs, and hold thonaelvee ready t04a]»el
33 any .attack that may be: made* by their enemies. They had nee^
34 Indeed* 'to be prepared,' ftr-'die ' pradatosy dispoaidoii of die •
35 ViMMas..ift diarpeaed .bjii long emBityi thej gjffe-no-qoif*
36 Digitized by Google