'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.' [‎107] (136/594)

through the Black-Sea, and th of Colchis. 107
Prince of Uingrdta Sixty Thoufand Ells of Linnen Cloath,
made in the Country. i he Abe a 5 alfo were made Tributary,
but they feldom pay'd any thing ; and now they pay nothing.
The King of Imiretta, and the Prince of fend their
Tribute to the Bafha of Jkal^ikg: but a Chianx gathers it in
Mingrelia. When I came to Al^athe report went, that
the Turks would take pofleffion of thefe Countries, under the
Government of a Bafha , not knowing any other way to
prevent the perpetual Wars, that apparently mine and de
populate the Countries. However it be now, the
formerly forbore to take pofleffion of it, in regard that the
Precepts of Mahumatifm, could not conveniently be there ob-
lerv'd, becaule the beft nourifliment in thofe Countries is their
Wine and their Hogs Flefh, which are both prohibited by the
Mahometan Law: befides that they have no Bread 5 and the
People live (catter'd upon and down the Country, fo that where-
ever the Turh^ fhould build their Fortreffes, they would not be
able to Command, within their reach, above Seven or Eight
Houfes. Upon which Confiderations they left thofe Pro
vinces in their Ancient Condition, and are fatisfi'd only to
keep 'em under Subjedion for a Nurfery of Slaves; which
yeilds 'em every Year no lefs then Seven or Eight Thoufand.
And the fame Reafons and Obftacles moft apparently difcourage
the Turks from Incorporating into the Body of their Empire,
thofe Vaft Plains of Tartary and Scythia, and the wide Regions
of Mount Caucajuf. For if the People that inhabit thole parts,
were united into Cities and ftrong Places, there might be a
way found to reduce em, and keep 'em in Subjection. But
which way is it poflible to fubdue a People that change their
Habitations every Month, and all their Life-time wander up
and down the Country ?
The prefent Prince of Mingnlia is the Eighth, fince that
Country firft revolted from the Dominion of Thefe
Princes of Mingrelia, all give themlelves the Title of
as much as to fay, the Head ofJuJiice ; from a
Word, that fignihes Juftice : from whence the firft Race of
the Kings of ( PerJia was call'd (pich-Vadian, that is to fay, the
firft Juftice. To denote, that they were the firft Men, whom
the People of that vaft Country, eftablifli'd over 'em for the
Adminiftration of Juftice among 'em; and to maintain every one
in the enjoyment of his own Property. The King of
gives himfelf the Title of Meppe, which fignifies a ' n the
Georgian I anguage. Both which and boaft them-
felves