ABSTRACT
Kaplan also proposed an alternative route - from the Sunzha, through the lands of the Okok and the 'Black Prince' and across 'Avaria'. The Avar-koysu, indeed, runs south-west of the Andi-koysu and would have been even more dangerous and impracticable than the first alternative. It is probable that the route by the Argun affluent of the Sunzha was intended. This, by difficult tracks west ofTebulos-mta, gives access to Pshaveti and the upper valley of the Aragvi. Eventually the new mission stuck to the route along the Terek and the Sunzha which Rusin and Birkin had used before them.
