. All the Russias: travels and studies in contemporary European Russia, Finland, Siberia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. er side ofthe river Kura. This may not sound very attractive, but thereis an abruptness about the contours and a serpentine twist aboutthe river that make it one of the most strikingly placed towns Iknow. In summer, as might be guessed from its position andfrom the additional fact that it has a phenomenally small rain-fall, Tiflis is stifling and intolerably hot, but in winter the sameconditions render it a delightful residence, perfectly sheltered from the cold winds that
. All the Russias: travels and studies in contemporary European Russia, Finland, Siberia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. er side ofthe river Kura. This may not sound very attractive, but thereis an abruptness about the contours and a serpentine twist aboutthe river that make it one of the most strikingly placed towns Iknow. In summer, as might be guessed from its position andfrom the additional fact that it has a phenomenally small rain-fall, Tiflis is stifling and intolerably hot, but in winter the sameconditions render it a delightful residence, perfectly sheltered from the cold winds that sweep from the mountains and the 202 TIFLIS OF THE CROSS-ROADS 203 plain to the southeast, and by its dry atmosphere admirablysuited to people with weak lungs. It is a place of great importance to modern Russia. It forms,to begin with, the end of the military road across the Caucasus,which, though the railway now goes round the eastern coastto Baku, is still the quickest way to Europe, and all the mailscome over it by fast coach. It is midway between Baku andBatum; that is, between the Caspian and the Black Sea, be-. Tiflis. tween Europe and Asia when you go east and west, as well aswhen you go north and south. The railway is now open to Kars,that frontier fortress which, not long ago the Russian objective,will some day be her base for an advance into Armenia and farbeyond. Tifiis, in fact, is thinking of the future, as you arereminded when you go to the topographical department of theGeneral Staff to buy the magnificent maps they sell, and see adozen officers working busily over their drawing-boards. 204 ALL THE RUSSIAS And Russia has developed her Caucasian capital in a man-ner worthy of its importance. In the modern town the streetsare wide and paved and lighted by electricity, the shops arelarge and handsome, there is a public garden with winding walksand fine trees, excellent tramways run in all directions, and thepublic carriages, leather-upholstered and rubber-tyred, are
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