The order was now given for the troops to return up the valley, a halt being made in Lataly, that Edav might be captured. He stubbornly refused to give himself up, and at the expiration of four hours his tower was surrounded, and a howitzer placed in position. Seeing what was going on, Edav opened fiCe with sufficient precision to wound two Russians at the first discharge, whereupon twenty-four rounds of shot and shell completed the destruction of the upper part of his tower- Edav's friends were again sent to prevail upon him to surrender, but he persisted in keeping up a brisk running fire, until a party advanced, and in a few moments the dwelling at the foot of the toWer was in flames. To another summons, Edav replied by saying, that his property, his store of com, everything belonging to him was being destroyed, and nothing was left for him but to die. He should therefore fight to the end.
At dusk Tenghyz was ordered to advance with a ladder-party of the Kabardines to take the rebels alive, which he did, bringing away Edav, Kasva Gheighevlyany his uncle, a man named Pyko, and a woman who was found shot through the leg, and died the following day. The unhappy creature stated that she had gone to the tower to beseech Edav not to fight, and was unable to leave it again before the troops came up. Of the Russian force, three were seriously and four slightly wounded; and of the rebels, two were wounded, one being Edav himself, who declared he was quite unable to move, and had lo be carried away swearing at fritnd and foe alike; but it was soon discovered that he had only been lightly stnick on the chest by a splinter.
The morning after Edav's capture the people of Lataly hastened to assure the Governor that they should never give further trouble. They coolly told him that the instdut they knew why the soldiers had stopped at I.^taly, they all ascended their towers with the intention of fighting in defence of Edav; but they became so frightened at the noise made by the big gun, the first they had ever heard, that they thought it more prudent to by Google
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get out of ihe way, and accordingly fled to the hills. Edav's party also confessed to their alarm at the effects produced by the big gun, and said they soon discovered that their safety lay in stretching themselves at full length on the floor each time they saw smoke issue from it, for they were then strucic by small stones and mortar only.
From Lataly the division returned by way of Mestye to Kala, the people they passed being unarmed, silent, and submissive in their manner. Two of the missing ringleaders having taken refuge in & tower at a village in the latter commune, determined, as Edav had been, to light it out, instructions were left by the Governor, who had proceeded to make his report to the Grand Duke, that they were also to be captured, if possible without loss of life; but the people of Kala with one Voice promised the Chief, that the men wanted would assuredly be sent to him at Lyaylyash, for they had no wish to fight, and entreated that the soldiers should be withdrawn as quickly as possible. Their word Was taken, the troops recrossed the Latp>ary pass, and the expedition cattle to an end.
Of eighteen prisoners placed upon their trial, three were liberated, four were adjudged one year's imprisonment at I.yaylyash, and six were condemned to three years', one to two years', and four to five years' exile, in the government of KharkofT, sentences that have been carried into effect, except in the case of Konsav, Kazboulatt's son (condemned to five years' banishment), who was detained at Koutais, until various charges brought against him, including that of murder, were fully investigated.
Kazboulatt Shervashj'dze, Edav, Pyko, and Kasva, were condemned, by military tribunal, to suffer death, but three of these men having died in prison, the sentence on the survivor, Pyko, was commuted by H.I.H. the Governor-General, to five years' banishment in the government of Kharkofi",
The result of these disorders, is certain changes in the administration of the District, the most important being:
1. The dismissal of the Priestav, replaced by a more active man.
2. The troops at Betcho are to bi^ substituted by a militia formed of the natives of the upper valley of the Ingour, under the orders of the Chief of the District and of the Priestav.
3. The appointment of a law-otRcer with the powers of a MyravSy ioudya, 'justice of the peace.'
4. The revocation of the order for territorial survey; but the amount of annual tribute is raised.
5. The construction of two good roads into the District — one from the district of Sougdydy, along Ihe lower valley of the Ingour; the other from Lashketty to Oushkoul.