'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.' [‎105] (134/594)

througli the Black-Sea, and the Country of Colchis, i
The laft Day, which is the Fortieth, they Bury the Dead.
Then they make a Feaft for all their H elations, all their Friends,
all their Neighbours, and all thofe that came to bewail the
Party deceas'd ; the Women eating by thetiifelves, apart from
the Men. The Bifhop fays Mafs, and then feizes as his
Right, upon all that the Deceas'd Perfon made ufe of in his
Life, hisHorfe, hisCloaths, his Weapons, his Plate if he have
any, and all the reft of that fort. So that thele Mournings
mine whole Families in Mingrelia. Neverthelefe they are ob-
lig'd to this Solemn Performance. The Bifliop fays a for
the Dead, for the great profit he receives; and the Mourners
come to waile the Deceas d, as (lire to live Forty Days upon
what he has left behind. When a Bilhop dies the Prince him-
felf caufes Mafs to be faid upon the Forti'th Day^ and feizes
upon all his Goods that are Moveable.
This is all that I could learn in concerning the Na
ture of the Country, and the Cuftoms and Religion of the In
habitants. Their Neighbours Live and aft after the fame Fa-
Ihion, almofl: in every relpe6t: only they who Live riearer to
tPerfia and Turkey, are more Civil in their Manners, and more
Honeft and juft in their Inclinations Whereas they who lie
nearer the Tartars and Scythians, are more Barbarous in their
Cuftoitts, living withuut anyor outward Form of Reli
gion, or obfervance of any Laws. I have Ipoken alio of the
Ahcas and other People that Live at the Foot of Mount
tafm ^ concerning whom I have related as much as I could learn.
But now I (hall give an accompt of what I have ieen and heard;
fnoft remarkable, concerning thofe other Countries that bor
der upon Mingrelia. VVhich are the Principality of Cnriel }
and the Kingdom of Jmiretta,
The Country of Cuiriel is very fmall; it Borders to the
North upon Imiretta ; Eaftward upon a part of Mount
fus that belongs to the Turks. To the VVeft upon
and to the South upon the BUcl^Sea. It lies all along upon
that Sea in lehgth from the River that runs a Mile froni
the Caftle of Gonie, held by the diftant only Forty
Miles from Shafts. The Country of Guriel relembles Min
grelia in every thing as to its Nature and the Mantlets of the
Inhabitants; For they have the lame Religion , the fame
Cuftoms ; and the fame Inclinations to Leudnefs, Robbery
and Murder;
The