'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.' [‎208] (237/594)

208 The Travels of Sir John Chardin into Perfia,
And now before I relate what befell me at Teffiis, ic
behoves me to make a Defcription of the Place ; though the
Plate before the Leaf, might fuffice to give a diftind Idea
of if.
This City is one of the faireft in all though it be not
To very big. It is feated at the bottom of a Mountain, at the
Foot of which upon the Eaftern fide, runs the River
Which River, being the Ancient or an Arm of that
Cyrus, has its fource in the Mountains of and joyns to
Araxes. The moft part of the Houfes built by the River
fide ftand upon a hard Stony Rock. The City is encompafs'd
with very Strong and Beautiful Walls, only on that fide next
the River. It lyes all in length from the North to the South,
defended by a large Fortrels on the South fide feated upon the
brow of a Mountain , wherein there are none but Native
'Perjiatis , whether Inhabitants or Souldiers. The Parading
Place that is before it, ferves alio for a publick meeting Place
and Market. This Fortrefs is likewile a Sanctuary of Refuge:
All manner of Criminals and People in Debt are there fafe.
The Prince of Georgia is oblig'd to pals through the midftof it,
when he goes according to cuftom to receive without the Gates
of the City, the Kings Prefents and Letters; for that when
you come from Perfia to Teffiis, there's no entring into the
City but through the Fortrefs. Yet moft certain it is, that the
Prince never goes through the Caftle, but he is afraid of being
arrefted, and leaft the Governor fliould have fbme fecret order
to feize upon his Perfon. And indeed the Kings have
very prudently eftablifli'd a cuftom among the of
Georgia, and the reft of the Governors of the Provinces of the
Empire, that they are oblig'd to go and receive whatever the
King fends em without the Gates of the City 5 by which means
he may without any trouble or hazard feize upon their Perfons.
Tefftkcontains feveral Churches; to the Number as they fay of
Fourteen ■,which is much in a Country where there is fo little
Devotion. Six are maintain'd and appropriated to the
Service i Theother belong to The Ca
thedral, which is call d Sion^ is (eated upon the Bank of the
River, built all of fair hewn Stone. 'Tis an Ancient Building
welt in repair, like all the Ancient Churches in the Eaft ; which
are compos'd of Four Bodies, the middle of which is a great
D homo , fuftain'd by Four Great Pilafters, and cover'd with
a Steeple. The Great Altar is in the Middle of the Body that
lyes to the Eaft. The Infide of the Church is full of flat
+ Paintings