ABSTRACT
COMMENTARY 15 Metsk~ Batsk (ref. Chap. 2, p. 111, n. I) 'Dont la position est absolument inconnue' Brosset (ECI BHP/H, Nos. 14-15, col. 236). Some of the topographical indications of this passage are obscure but it would seem that the Georgians were proposing a route up the valley of the Argun, leading by tracks over the main chain of Caucasus into the upper valleys of the Aragvi and the Alazani. This route would cross the territory of the Akko Chechens (Shikh murza's Okolc) who were friendly to the Russians and had a slohoda at Terek-town (see Introduction, Section 5 and Commentary 14). The villages of Upper and Lower Kii CAkki) lie on an affluent of the Tchanti (White) Argun, the westerly feeder of the Argun (Baddeley, RFC, Vol. 11, index under 'Kii' and Map V, and for description of Argun route as far as the T chanti Argun, ibid., V 01. I, pp. 90 fr. ). West of the Tchanti Argun a track crosses the Basti-Iam (lam=mountain, ridge, in Ingush) , the boundary between Chechnia and Georgia (ibid., Vol. I, p. 114) to Shatil (1,524 m.) west of the great peak of Tebulos-mta (4,494 m.); then by the Anatori Pass to Khamkheti and paths leading to the upper valleys of the Aragvi and the Alazani. From Shatil, Baddeley states, a ride to TifUs 'in summer or early autumn' would always be feasible. Compare Radde's 'Marschroute', 1876, in Die Chews' uren und ihr Land, as far as Djarego on the Tchanti Argun. West of this river Meesti ridge or plateau is marked on Giildenstadt's map; it seems to correspond to Miskin-doulch of Baddeley's Map V. Bronevski (Vo1. 11, p. 166) refers to an
Ingush commune of Meesti, and also to the Aka and Betsi communes of the upper Kombulei. These indications explain the Metsk mountain range of Zvenigorodski. Amaley is the river Kornbulei (Reineggs/W., Vo1. I, p. 3 I I; Bronevski, Vo1. II, pp. 91, 152, 160), whose upper valley runs parallel with the Sunzha, the Assa and the Argun, and finally enters the Terek a few miles above Tartarup. Burnash remains obscure.
