'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.' [‎190] (219/594)

carry it into Turkey, to Ewrum, and the parts adpyning, where
they drive a great Trade. r i •
The Complexion of the Georgians is the molt beautiful in all
the Eaft ; and I can fafely fay. That never faw an ill-fa.
vour'd Countenance in all that Country, either of the one or
other Sex : but I have feen thofe that have had Angels Faces;
Nature having beftow'd upon the Women of that Country
Graces and Features, which are not other where to be feen ;
So that 'tis impoffible to behold 'em without falling in Love.
More Charming Countenances, nor more Lovely Statures and
Proportions cannot be Pencill'd forth by all the Art of Man,
then thofe of the Georgian Women. They are Tall, clear
Limb'd, Plump and Full, but not over Fat, and extreamly
Slender in the Wafte: Let em have never fo few Cloaths on,
you {hall not fee their Hips. That which fpoils all is this,
that they all Paint, as well the Lovely as lefs Beautiful. For
they make ufe of Paint in ftead of other Ornaments: Never-
thelefswhen they Drefs themfelves, they Deck themfelves'i'n
Sumptuous Habits and Jewels as our Women do.
The Georgians alfo are Naturally very Witty. Nor wou!i|
there be more Learned Men, or more Ingenious Mafters in the
World, were they but improv'd by the Knowledge of Arts and
Sciences: but their Education is fo mean and paltry, that ha
ving nothing but bad Examples before their ttyes, thofe Parts
of theirs are altogether drown'd in Vice and Ignorance. Which
is the reafon that they are generally Cheats and Knaves, per
fidious, treacherous, ingrateful and proud. Impudent beyond
Imagination to deny their own Words, and their very Deeds j
to fet afoot and maintain Falfliood j to demand more then is
their Due 5 to counterfeit Deeds and forge Lyes. They are
irreconcileable in their Enmities, and never forgive. True it
is, they are not eafily provok'd i nor do they readily admit
thofe Hatreds which they preferve inviolably when once con-
ceiv'd. And befides thefe Vices of the Mind, no Men are
more addi&ed to their fenfual Pleafures and Beftial Voluptu-
oufnels 5 that is to fay, to Drunkennefs and Luxury. In which
filthy Divertifements, they plunge themfelves with fo much
the more freedom, becaufe they are fo common, and not lookt
upon as fcandalous in Georgia. The Church-men will be as
drunk as others, and keep Female Slaves in their Houfes, to
make ufe of in ftead of Concubines: at which no body is of
fended, as being no more then what is generally praftis'd, and
as it were authoriz'd by Cuftom. In fo much that theSupcriour
+ of