invasions into the Russian limits ceased from the time when Azlan Khan retained possession of the defiles which lead into his territories from Avar.  But the village of Khounzakh, or Avar, at the eastern extremity of the Avar country, has ever remained the heritage of the khans, and their command there is law.  Besides, though he has the right to order his noukers to cut to pieces with their kinjals [17] any inhabitant of Khounzakh, nay, any passer-by, the Khan cannot lay any tax or impost upon the people, and must content himself with the revenues arising from his flocks, and the fields cultivated by his karavashes (slaves,) or yezeers (prisoners.)

[Footnote 17:  Dagger or poniard.  These weapons are of various forms, and generally much more formidable than would be suggested to an European by the name dagger.  The kinjal is used with wonderful force and dexterity by the mountaineers, whose national weapon it may be said to be; it is sometimes employed even as a missile.  It is worn suspended in a slanting direction in the girdle, not on the side, but in front of the body.]

Without, however, taking any direct imposts, the khans do not abstain from exacting dues, sanctified rather by force than custom.  For the Khan to take from their home a young man or a girl—­to command a waggon with oxen or buffaloes to 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!”