DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0469
DIFFICULT PASSAGE OF MOUNT OLIGYRTOS. 431
insuperable antipathy to thieves and gunpowder, was, however, of
essential service to us by his active intrepidity in this particular
instance, in which he had to wage war only with the elements.
The guides which we had taken at Kalpaki, when they saw the
depth of the snow upon the mountain, obstinately refused to ac-
company us if we persisted in our determination to proceed. Ibra-
him, who was as bold as a lion in the moment of conflict, and whose
heart vibrated with enthusiastic ardour at the report of a gun or
pistol, was not proof against the chilling horror of that boundless
tract of untrodden snow which was expanded before his view. We
were, therefore, on the point of abandoning the passage for the pre-
sent; and were actually thinking of returning, when Salique jumped
from his horse, and began to persuade the Greeks to conduct us
through, by a very cogent argument, the argumentum baculinum,
which I found it impossible to check. In fact he applied his whip
to their shoulders with great effect; and then, addressing himself to
me, said, " if we now return to Kalpaki, we shall be flogged in our
turn ; and, if the whole mountain should change into snow, we must
get through it." He gave a gentle taunt to Ibrahim, whom he re-
minded of what he had said at Megalopolis; that the prudent Mu-
sulman should never expose himself to unnecessary danger; but,
when he is once in a perilous situation, should exert every nerve to
extricate himself with credit. He then descanted on the salutary
effects of wine; and, when our guides were again attempting to
return, he beat them about the head with his pistols, and threatened
to shoot them ii they put the smallest impediment in the way of our
progress. It was in vain that I attempted to moderate his violence,
and he succeeded, at last, in getting us to the summit of the pass,
which it. took us only an hour and ten minutes to reach from the
beginning of the ascent.
Our descent was still attended with considerable difficulty; but
we arrived at the foot of the mountain in an hour and twenty
minutes, and passed by a village called Skotmi, situated in a long
plain. Some rough traces are observable at a short distance from
insuperable antipathy to thieves and gunpowder, was, however, of
essential service to us by his active intrepidity in this particular
instance, in which he had to wage war only with the elements.
The guides which we had taken at Kalpaki, when they saw the
depth of the snow upon the mountain, obstinately refused to ac-
company us if we persisted in our determination to proceed. Ibra-
him, who was as bold as a lion in the moment of conflict, and whose
heart vibrated with enthusiastic ardour at the report of a gun or
pistol, was not proof against the chilling horror of that boundless
tract of untrodden snow which was expanded before his view. We
were, therefore, on the point of abandoning the passage for the pre-
sent; and were actually thinking of returning, when Salique jumped
from his horse, and began to persuade the Greeks to conduct us
through, by a very cogent argument, the argumentum baculinum,
which I found it impossible to check. In fact he applied his whip
to their shoulders with great effect; and then, addressing himself to
me, said, " if we now return to Kalpaki, we shall be flogged in our
turn ; and, if the whole mountain should change into snow, we must
get through it." He gave a gentle taunt to Ibrahim, whom he re-
minded of what he had said at Megalopolis; that the prudent Mu-
sulman should never expose himself to unnecessary danger; but,
when he is once in a perilous situation, should exert every nerve to
extricate himself with credit. He then descanted on the salutary
effects of wine; and, when our guides were again attempting to
return, he beat them about the head with his pistols, and threatened
to shoot them ii they put the smallest impediment in the way of our
progress. It was in vain that I attempted to moderate his violence,
and he succeeded, at last, in getting us to the summit of the pass,
which it. took us only an hour and ten minutes to reach from the
beginning of the ascent.
Our descent was still attended with considerable difficulty; but
we arrived at the foot of the mountain in an hour and twenty
minutes, and passed by a village called Skotmi, situated in a long
plain. Some rough traces are observable at a short distance from