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BATUM TO TIFLIS 69
much from their sisters in Europe, at any rate in their dress.
But the streets were busy and noisy.
A hospitable welcome awaited us at our American friends’
spacious house. The large airy rooms were very pleasant in
the heat, which was extremely oppressive in the daytime.
The first visit wc paid was to the President of the Federation
of Transcaucasian Republics, in the Government building.
He was a fine-looking man ; a powerfully built, swarthy
Georgian with a strong, elever face. He welcomed us and
expressed many kind wishes, hoping wc would help them and
give them the benefit of our expert knowledge in their
endeavours to develop the country and exploit its possibilities.
I replied that it had given us great pleasure to travel through
his beautiful country, and that wc hoped that our work,
whether its results were small or great, would at least do
something to bring Transcaucasia a little nearer to Europe,
and perhaps help it on a little.
In front of a fine large map on the wall wc discussed where
the Armenian refugees could be settled if the Sardarabad plan
should prove impracticable. The President pointed out that
in Azerbaijan there was a large plain which could be irrigated
and could accommodate a good many thousands ; moreover,
there were quite a lot of Armenians there already. Further,
there was still room for one or two thousands in Abkhasia, the
north-western autonomous republic in Georgia, situated near
the Black Sea, where several thousand Armenian refugees
had settled previously. And there would also be room for
a number of refugees in other mountain districts of Georgia.
Afterwards wc went for a walk in the garden in which the
former viceroy’s palace stands. It was most luxuriant, with
all sorts of sub-tropical trees, and beautifully kept, with well
tended walks of red gravel between the green lawns, and
flower-beds glowing with colour. One could have imagined
it like this under the black double-eagle of the Tsardom, with
a regiment of servants and humble serfs, but not so much
under the red star of the proletariat. Håving seen the garden,
I paid my respects to the Georgian Government and met the
Vice-President.
In the afternoon I motored up the big causeway which
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