body of irregular horse and foot, who were awaiting our approach in all the magnificence of banners, kettledrums, sackbuts, psalteries, and all kinds of possible and impossible instruments of music.  No sooner did we approach than away they went, horse and foot, shouting and blowing and waving their flags.  The idea seemed contagious, for it was instantaneously followed by Osman Pacha and everyone who bestrode any kind of beast, prominent amongst whom the Affghan might be seen, flourishing his lance well to the fore.  The glade opened out into a valley of inconsiderable size, which has witnessed more than one encounter between the Christians and Turks.  Only the previous winter an engagement took place, in which the Turks, notwithstanding that they remained masters of the position, had from forty to fifty men put hors de combat.  The timber here was of far finer growth than any I had yet seen, and the numerous oaks and elms lying with uptorn roots betokened the violence of the storms which rage.  Many of them were lying midway across our line of march, and it was found necessary to remove them to admit of a free passage.  This was soon effected, though perhaps with a little more noise than is consistent with English ideas of order.  We had by this time entered the Pass of Dugah, formed by the extremities of Piwa on the left, and Banian on the right.  The slopes on either hand are wooded, that of Banian to much the greatest extent.  It is some fifteen miles in length, and consists of a series of open spaces, connected by narrow defiles, whose bottoms resemble the bed of a dry stream.  The scenery is generally pretty, and abounds with interest from its being a constant bone of contention between the rival factions.  As a defensive position it is undoubtedly strong; but there is nothing in the nature of the ground in reality to impede the advance of a determined force.  While halted in one of the open spaces which I have mentioned, we discovered a hole or cavern in the side of the hill, capable of holding at least two hundred men.  Doubtless this is a constant resort of the freebooters and other lawless ruffians who infest this part of the country.  It was here that the European Consuls were nearly meeting their deaths, although accompanied by the Secretary of the Montenegrin Prince, when employed in making arrangements for the relief of Niksich, which was then invested.

It was dark before we reached the extremity of the valley, and little did we then think under what circumstances we should next see it.  The latter portion of our march lay through a wood of hazel and other small trees, intersected here and there by pathways.  Here we were met by more irregulars, and, debouching from the high land, we found a portion of the garrison of Niksich drawn up on the opposite bank of a little stream which flowed beneath us.  The contour of the surrounding country is very remarkable:  the gray heights of Piwa behind us, Drobniak to our left, and Banian looking green by comparison on the right, while the rocky mountains of Karatag form a dark and gloomy foreground to the picture.