168 ELLYR1AN VILLAGES PALISAD\ED. [ c h a p . iv.
We were now in the very gorge of that chain. Below
us, in the valley, I observed some prodigious trees
growing close to a Hor (ravine), in which was running
water, and the sides of the valley under the mountains
being as usual a mass of débris of huge detached rocks,
were thronged with villages, all strongly fortified with
thick bamboo palisades. The whole country was a series
of natural forts, occupied by a large population.
A glance at the scene before me was quite sufficient ;
—to fight a, way through a valley a quarter of a mile
wide, hemmed in by high walls of rock and bristling
with lances and arrows, would be impossible with my
few men, encumbered by transport animals. Should
the camels arrive, I could march into Ellyria in twenty
minutes, make the chief a large present, and pass on
without halting until I cleared the Ellyria valley. At
any rate I was well before the Turks, and the forced
march at night, however distressing, had beefi successful.
The great difficulty now lay in the ravine that we had
just crossed ; this would assuredly delay the caravan
for a considerable time.
Tying our horses to a bush, we sat upon a rock
beneath the shade of a small tree within ten paces of
the path, and considered the best course to pursue.
I hardly liked to risk an advance into Ellyria. alone,
before the arrival of my whole party, as we had been
very rudely received by the Tollogo people on the
previous evening;—nevertheless I thought it might
be good policy to ride unattended into Ellyria, and
thus to court an introduction to the chief. However,
our consultation ended in a determination to wait
where we then were,, until the caravan should have
accomplished the last difficulty by crossing the ravine;
when we would all march into Ellyria in company.
For a long time we sat gazing at the valley before us
in which our fate lay hidden; feeling thankful that we
had thus checkmated the brutal Turks. Not a sound
was heard of our approaching camels; the delay was
most irksome. There were many difficult places that
we had passed through, and each would be a source
of serious delay to the animals.
At length we heard them in the distance. We could
distinctly hear the men’s voices; and we rejoiced
that they were approaching the last remaining
o b s t a c l e th a t one ravine passed through, and all
before would be easy. I heard the rattling of the
stones as they drew nearer; and, looking towards the
ravine, I saw emerge from the dark foliage of the
trees within 'fifty yards of us the hated red fiog and
crescent, leading the Turks’ p a r ty ! We were outmarched
!
One by one, with scowling looks, the insolent scoun