Capt. Koschkull on the Caucasus. 345 
monuments, inscriptions, ornaments and utensils. The most 
remarkable remains of the period of the propagation of Chris- 
tianity among the Armenians and Georgians are the ruins of 
the city of Ani, the ancient capital of Armenia, situated on the 
banks of the river Arpa-tschai. 
Nearly all the ancient remains found in the eastern part of 
the Caucasus belong to the epoch of the domain of the Persians 
and consist of ruins of mosques and caravanseras, palaces and 
fortifications, aqueducts, and canals, 
The height of the mountains, and the isolated and enclosed 
character of the valleys of the Isthmus of the Caucasus may 
be considered as the principal cause of the diversi in the 
Population of the Caucasus and of the tenacity with which 
national characteristics have been maintained. 
he northwest part of the Caucasian chain, as far east as 
Mt. Elbruz, is inhabited on the north side by the Netokhasch, 
Schapsaughes, and Abadzek; on the southern slope by the 
Oubjiskh and Abkhaz, : 
Atter the subjugation of this portion of the Caucasus, in 
, the greater part of these tribes, except the Abkhaz, quit- 
ted the country, and it has since been occupied only by the Rus- 
sans, All the tribes mentioned speak different languages. 
J udging from certain customs which are retained by these peo- 
Ple, We are led to believe that during the time of the Gennis 
colonies Christianity spread widely among the inhabitants of 
this part of the Caucasus, but now they are all Mohammedans, 
and belong to the sect of the Sunnites. 
Between the meridians of Elbraz and Tebaulas-mtha, on the 
..2ern slope of the mountains, and along the river Terek and 
its tributaries are some Russians who form military colonies; 
‘a original population consisting of the inhabitants of Ka- 
tda and Tschetschnia, The valleys among the mountains in 
T part of the chain are inhabited by the Ossethes and the 
orschethes 
ie in the basin of the Rion are found the Mingrelians and 
€ Imerethians, in the valley of the Kur, the Georgians, an 
Lj her south in the mountains of Kathlo-Imeritia and the 
ttle Caucasus, the Gourians and Armenians. All these speak 
Kacrent languages, and are Christians, except the inhabitants of 
aand Tschetschnia, who are Mohammedans. The south- 
the Portion of the Isthmus of the Caucasus is occupied, in 
valley of the great mountain chain by a population known 
e 
teak different dialects of one la d who 
nguage, an 
hammedans of the Sunnite sect. The southern slope of the 
