'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎156] (211/905)

156
PRODUCTIONS OF GEORGIA. [CHAP. VII.
it contains three suburbs, with numerous gardens, in addition
to the new town constructed by General Yermaloff, and the
modern castle of Metckh, which commands the north-west
part of the city. There are three canals, 15 squares, seven
karvanserais, 22 Armenian and 13 Georgian Greek churches;
also breweries, tanneries, and different manufactories connected
with Russian commerce in Asia; which, by way of encourage
ment, are exempted, to a certain extent, from the usual duties.
The population amounts to about 46,228 Armenians and
Georgians; the former are the most numerous, but the
language of the latter prevails. 1
The ancient city was on the left bank of the Kur, not far
from the mineral springs, to which, according to the Armenian
historians, it owed its foundation; but the natives say, that
Zourab, a Persian chief, first made it his residence in the
fourth century of our era. 2
Surface and In the preceding pages, it has been seen that the surface of
Georgia. Russian Georgia is greatly diversified with mountains, hills,
plains, and valleys. The basin of the Kur, and the valleys of
the Aragavi, the Alazan, and its other tributary streams, are
the best portions of this rich but neglected province. The
hills are covered with pine, chestnut, oak, ash, and other tim
ber ; vines and fruits are also cultivated, and the plains are
highly productive.
In addition to the numerous flocks of sheep, camels, and
cattle, the Georgian districts produce silk, cotton, hemp, flax,
saffron, madder, wine, brandy, honey, salt, naphtha, fruit,
grain. See., which together yield the annual value of seven
millions sterling. 3
The following table shows the state of the population as it
existed in 1834.
1 Aperiju, &c., p. 143 to 195.
2 Ibid., p. 171.
8 43,343,900 silver rubles.—Ibid., Tome I., p. 49, &c.