'The travels of Sir John Chardin into Persia and the East Indies, through the Black Sea, and the country of Colchis. Containing the author's voyage from Paris to Ispahan. To which is added, the coronation of the present King of Persia, Solyman the III.' [‎86] (115/594)

The Travels of Sir John Chardiii into Perfia,
"doing, they putthofe ChiUern out of a great deal of Mifery
which they would undergo in a languifliing Dutempei, which
in the end muft of neceffity carry 'em off. Such are the Ar-
Lniments of thefe Barbarous People that have neither fname,
nor Humanity. I am afraid to tell the Truth, left Hiftory
fhould want belief in this particular, or that the Truths which
I recount {hould be look'd upon as the Exorbitances of Rela
tion. But I aver 'em to be really true, as fome adHom which
f (hall recite, will fufficiently juftifie.
The Gentlemen of the Country have full Power over the
Lives and Eftates of their Tenants, with whom they do what
they pleafe. T hey feize upon 'em, whether Wife or Chil
dren ; they fell'em, or difpofe of'em otherwifeas they think
fit. Every Country-Man furnifhes his Lord with fb much
Corn, Cartel, Wine, and other Provifions, as he is able. So
that their Wealth confifts in the Number of their Vaflals. Be-
fides, everyone is oblig'd to entertain his Lord Two or Three
days in a Year at their own Expences. Which is the reafon
that the Nobility,fo long as the Year lafts,go from one place to
another devouring their Tenants, and fometimes the Tenants
of other Men.
The Prince himfelf leads the fame Life, fo that 'tis a hard
matter every day to know where to find him. When the
Vaffals of feveral Lords are at difference, their Mafters decide
the difpute: but when the Lords are at variance among them-
felves, force and main ftrength determine the Quarrel, and the
ftouteft Arm gets the better. There is not a Gentleman in Min-
grelia but has fome quarrel or other. And therefore it is, that
they always go arm'd, and as numeroufly attended as they can.
When they ride, they are arm'd at all Points, and their fol
lowers alio i nor do they ever fleep without their Swords by
their fides and when they go to Bed, they fleep upon their
Belleys, laying their Swords under 'em.
Their Arms are a Lance, Bow and Arrows, a ftreight
Sword, a Mace and a Buckler j but there are very few that
carry Fire Arms. They are very good Souldiers, fit a Horfe
very well, and handle their Lances with an Extraordinary
Dexterity.
Their Habit is peculiar ^ and unlefs they be the Ecclefiaftical
Perfons, they wear but very little Beard. They Shave all the
Top of their Heads in a Circle, fuffering the reft of their
Hair to grow down to their Eyes, and then clip it round of art
even length. They cover their Heads with a light Cap of Fek
■f tety