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Article TRANSCAUCASIA. ← Page 9 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Transcaucasia.
ones of Mingrclia and Immiretia , Avhich Baron Haxthausen visited , and Avhich offer points of great interest . Mingrclia contains many places on the shores of the Black Sea of Avhich AVC are now daily reading accounts in the neAvspapers , —Anaklia , Redout-Kale , Sugdide , & c . The Prince of Mingrclia is called the " Dadian , " supposed to be either an official or family name .
This country threAV off its allegiance to Georgia in the sixteenth century , and has ever since remained nominally independent , retaining its OAvn legislation , but under the protection of Russia . " The Dadian , " says Haxthausen , " in common AA'ith his vassals , has peasants under him , divided into two classes ; one , consisting of those settled immediatelaround the court or residence of
y their lord and master , cultivate his lands , and perform other services , in return for which the lord is bound to support them and their families . The second class consists of the regular husbandmen , AVIIO till their OAVII fields , and pay their lord a tribute of corn and cattle . . . . The revenue of the Dadian
consists almost entoely of natural produce , and its pecuniary A alue is small ; for months together the prince has frequently not tAventy-five roubles to meet the petty expenses of his household . " This Prince of Mingrelia seems to resemble very much a German feudal lord of the Middle Ages , spending his time in hunting , and in contests AAath the neighbouring predatory tribes ,
attended by a suite of young nobles and princes . When , in time of peace , they go out to the chase , "the headsmen frequently give information one to another of the direction the Dadian has taken , in order to conceal their cattle ; for if the party comes upon a herd , some of the beasts are without ceremony slain on the spot , roasted and eaten . "
Immiretia is an interesting country , from its association with the records and tradition of past ages . Its chief toAvn , Kootais , is said to have been the native place of Medea , and the chief place of tlie gold district of Colchis ; it is situated on the river Rion , the Avell-known Phasis of the Argonautic expedition . The inhabitants have the reputation of being in every way
immoral and depraved . The peasants who hold the land under the nobles are very ill protected by the law , and subject to great extortion and oppression . In reviewing the history and present state of these countries , their interest ( especially at this time ) increases as we proceed . The limits of our Avork warn us to conclude here our present
article ; but we reserve for a future number an account of Armenia and the South , —a country to which civilization has given a different aspect , and Avhere the Church presents a feature of the highest interest and importance .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Transcaucasia.
ones of Mingrclia and Immiretia , Avhich Baron Haxthausen visited , and Avhich offer points of great interest . Mingrclia contains many places on the shores of the Black Sea of Avhich AVC are now daily reading accounts in the neAvspapers , —Anaklia , Redout-Kale , Sugdide , & c . The Prince of Mingrclia is called the " Dadian , " supposed to be either an official or family name .
This country threAV off its allegiance to Georgia in the sixteenth century , and has ever since remained nominally independent , retaining its OAvn legislation , but under the protection of Russia . " The Dadian , " says Haxthausen , " in common AA'ith his vassals , has peasants under him , divided into two classes ; one , consisting of those settled immediatelaround the court or residence of
y their lord and master , cultivate his lands , and perform other services , in return for which the lord is bound to support them and their families . The second class consists of the regular husbandmen , AVIIO till their OAVII fields , and pay their lord a tribute of corn and cattle . . . . The revenue of the Dadian
consists almost entoely of natural produce , and its pecuniary A alue is small ; for months together the prince has frequently not tAventy-five roubles to meet the petty expenses of his household . " This Prince of Mingrelia seems to resemble very much a German feudal lord of the Middle Ages , spending his time in hunting , and in contests AAath the neighbouring predatory tribes ,
attended by a suite of young nobles and princes . When , in time of peace , they go out to the chase , "the headsmen frequently give information one to another of the direction the Dadian has taken , in order to conceal their cattle ; for if the party comes upon a herd , some of the beasts are without ceremony slain on the spot , roasted and eaten . "
Immiretia is an interesting country , from its association with the records and tradition of past ages . Its chief toAvn , Kootais , is said to have been the native place of Medea , and the chief place of tlie gold district of Colchis ; it is situated on the river Rion , the Avell-known Phasis of the Argonautic expedition . The inhabitants have the reputation of being in every way
immoral and depraved . The peasants who hold the land under the nobles are very ill protected by the law , and subject to great extortion and oppression . In reviewing the history and present state of these countries , their interest ( especially at this time ) increases as we proceed . The limits of our Avork warn us to conclude here our present
article ; but we reserve for a future number an account of Armenia and the South , —a country to which civilization has given a different aspect , and Avhere the Church presents a feature of the highest interest and importance .