274 Journal of a Tour through Georgia, [Junes, 



on shore, are transported by land for five days, to the hanks of the 

 Phasis, where they once more embark, and are conveyed down to the 

 Euxine." The Koor must have sunk wonderfully in its bed, since a 

 traffic could be carried upon its stream to such a height, as to make the 

 land carriage across to the river Phasis or River, only a journey of five 

 days. Gibbon says, that the Koor is navigable as far upas Sarapona, a 

 distance of a hundred miles from the sea, forty only of which would ad- 

 mit large vessels. From the information I have been able to collect upon 

 the spot, I shouM say that this river will admit vessels drawing about 

 five feet water as far up as its junction with the Alazan, but not until 

 its being augmented by the Araxes, would vessels of considerable bur- 

 den find a sufficiency of water. At present the Phasis is not navigable 

 beyond Kotais, the capital of Immsretia. Hence from the present shal- 

 lowness of these two rivers, instead of goods being landed at a point on 

 the Koor, whence they might arrive, after a journey of only five days, 

 at a corresponding point on the Phasis, they would be obliged to un - 

 ship them so low down the river as to require at least sixteen days' land 

 transportation over a mountainous country, ere they could be re- 

 embarked upon the Phasis. "We know also, that Seleucus Nicator 

 projected a connection between the Euxine and Caspian seas by means 

 of a canal, which being only to be effected by the union of the two 

 rivers in question, it is obvious that the idea could not have been con- 

 ceived at all, unless the Koor and Phasis then possessed a more exten- 

 sive navigation than they do at present. 



On quitting Beerchaly, the valley opens with a considerable expanse, 

 for several miles, crossing a rich soil, watered by branches of the Koor, 

 whence we obtained snipes, ducks, and bitterns, in great plenty. Large 

 flocks of pigeons flew continually over our heads, winging their way to 

 some forlorn remains of forts upon the neighbouring heights, which 

 are no longer worthy of being noted in the topography of Georgia. 

 After three hours' march we came upon the banks of the Koor, along 

 which we pursued our way for the rest of the day's journey. A gorge 

 in the mountains on the opposite shore was pointed out to me as a 

 noted avenue whence the Lesguys issue to ravage the country. A 

 Cossack guard is stationed there, and is said to be sufficient for the 

 defence of the pass, as the old invaders do not at present hazard de- 

 scents of any power. They are not often seen but in marauding parties, 

 small enough to escape pursuit, as easily as they elude vigilance in 

 making these excursions. It is only in war-time, when the Russian 

 soldiers are drawn to more distant service, that they descend in num- 

 bers, and spread rapine and misery in every direction. 



We reached Tasantoo just as night drew around us. On our right 

 lay a range of mountains running south-east, amongst whose defiles we 



