'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.' [‎168] (197/594)

i di The'T. ravels tf Sir John Chard in Perfia,
Sroitiaeh I had alKthe while that I was in Mingrelia for three months
together, during all which time I could get no Bread, befides that
I was al! the while under the Icourge of Hunger, and in continual
dread of fome Mifchief or other. But now, thanks be to GOD, I
liv'd in lecurity and plenty, and from a deteftable Country where
I could not get Victles for Money, was got into another Region
where they gave me Meat and Drink for nothing: Nor is it pot
fible for any Man, that has not undergone thofe Extremities, to
conceive the pleaiure of fo happy a Change.
The Inhabitants of thefe Mountains are for the moft part Chri-
ftians after the Georgian Ceremonies. They are very frefli Com-
plexion'd, and I have feen very handfom Women among em. Be
sides, they are infinitely better difpofition d then the
and the other People of Mount that are not under the
Dominion of the Turks.
The ninth Itravell'd five Leagues through a Plain, of which
have already fpok'n 5 the Soyl of which is very proper for Tillage:
and upon the Hills that furround it great Numbers of Cattel graie.
In the Evening Iarriv'd at Akahihg.
Akahike is a Fortrefs built upon Mount feated in a
holloiv place, among twenty Hillocks or thereabouts,frora whence
the Caftle might be eafily batter'd on every fide, though fortifi'd
with double Walls, and flanqu'd with Towers, both built with
Battlements after the Ancient Manner. Adjoyning to this Fortrefs,
which is defended with only a few great Guns, ftand upon the
Neigi bouring Hillocks aforemention'd a large Town, confifting of
about 400 Houfes all new,and which feem to have been but lately
built: fo that there is nothing of Antiquity to be feen, but two
Armenian Churches. The Town is Peopl'd with
Georgians, Greeks and "jews 5 the having their Churches,
and the Jews a Synagogue. There is alfo in it an Inn newly built
of Wood, as are all the reft of the Houies in that place. The Ri
ver Kur runs along by it, which derives it Head from the Moun
tain Caucafus, and was call'd anciently and by fome Corus.
Strabo places the Head of it m Arme in
will have it fpring from the Mountains of which are be
yond Colchis, which he calls Coraxicie, becatife of the River
that fprings from thence, and difcharges it felf into the
Which Opinions feeming fo various may neverthelefs be true, and
come all to one and the fame thing. For that has formerly
ipcluded Colchis-, and becaufe Colchis formerly Was a great King- -
dom, as I have already obferv'd. The of lodges
in the Fortrefs;, and the Principal Officers and Souldiers quarter in
the adjacent Villages. This