7

sian horsemen continually hovering about us), we suc-

ceeded with some loss, in beating от the Persians оп

every poin1, and the king astonished at а resistance

he could not expect and ignorant of our real strength

as all the fghting, had taken place in the suburbs,

gardens and vineyards, where he had по means of

counting us, retreated about 10 miles and encamped

оп the river Garnetcheny. Here began а conflict of

obstinacy and famine тоге than of fghting; we could

not with our insigni6cant force attack t,he king wit-

hout abandoning the blockade of the fortress, and he

did not like to соте апу тоте to close quarters with

us; but while he was in want only of forage for his

horses, we were in want of every thing, even of bread;

all supplies were cut от and it was only by desultory

fghting every day, that we could get anything out of

the villages and felds 0f the environs. This lasted till

the 3d 0f September, when having lost all hopes of

апу help от supplies from Georgia, where partial

insurrection had already taken place, а Persian force

introduced under ker-khouly-khan. The whole of the

mountains in ореп rebellion, and all comunication with

Russia cut of. А council of war was assembled, and

even then the retreat was decided оп much against

the inclination of our brave commander; this retreat

was still тоге diflcult than to remain where we we-

re, if we had had means of subsistance. 0ur numbers

had decreased we had about 15W sick and wounded

to carry with us; onr horses had in great пит-

bers perished, and those remaining to the only regi-

ment 0f cavalry were taken for the use of the artil-

lery. In fact it is diflcult to imagine а worse situation

than that in which our little army '•,yas placed at that