1^4 c Tb e Persian Travels Book III, 



with it. A thief is acquitted , paying fevcn-fold what he has ftole -, two parts 

 whereof go to the Party robb'd , one part to the Judges, and four parts to the 

 King. If the Thief has not wherewithal to make reftitution, he is ibid : If the 

 Produft do not yet equal the Sum, if he have a Wife and Children, they firft fej] 

 the Wife, and if that will notdo, then they fell the Children : But if the Party 

 robb'd be io merciful, as to forgive the Thief his {hare," then neither the King nor 

 the Judges can demand anything for their fharc. If a man commit a Murder, they 

 condemn him to die,and deliver him up into the hands of the Kindred of the Party flain 

 to do Execution as they pleaie themfelves. However , it is in their power to par- 

 don him , if he be able to give fixty Cows or more to the next a-kin to the Party 

 kilPd. In matter of Debt, a Creditor has power to leize upon all the Eftateof the 

 Debtor - 7 and if that will not fatisfie , he may fell his Wife and Children. 



The Chriftians of Georgia arc very ignorant, especially in Matters of Religion. 

 They learn that little they know, in the Mosafterics, as alfo to write and read •, and 

 generally the Women and Maids are more knowing than the Men •, not only be- 

 caufe there are more Religious Houfes for Women than for Men, but alfo becaufe 

 the Boys are bre.l up to labour, orient to the Wars. For if a Virgin grows up, and 

 happens to be handibm, ibme one or other prefently endeavors to fteal her, on pur. 

 pole to fell her into Turkj-, Per/ia , or the Territories of the great Mogul So 

 that to prevent their being ftofii, their Fathers and Mothers put them very young 

 into Nunneries* where they apply themfelves to ftudy , wherein, if they attain to 

 any proficiency, they ufually ftayasjong as they live: After that, theyprofefs, 

 and when they come to a certain Age, they arc permitted to Baptize, and to apply 

 the holy Oyles, as well as any Bifhopor Arch-Bifhopcan do. 



The Georgians are very great Drinkers , and Nature has fitted them a Countrey 

 that produces goodftore of Wine. They love the ftrongeft Drinks beft ; for which 

 reafoo, at their Fcafts both men and women drink more Aquavit a than Wine. The 

 women never eat in publick with their Husbands •, but when the man has invited his 

 Friends, the next day the Woman invites her She-companions. And it is obferv- 

 able that at the Womens Feftivals there is more Wine and Aquavit* drank than at 

 the mens. TheGueftis no fooner enter'd into the Dining-room, but he is prefent- 

 ed with 2 or 3 Difties of Sweet-meats, and a Glafs of half a pint of Aquavit a to excite 

 his Appetite. They are great Feeders upon Onions and Herbs , which they eat 

 raw out of the Garden. The Georgians are alfo great Travellers,and very much addi- 

 &ed to Trade-, they are very dext'rous in (hooting with Bow and Arrows, and are 

 accounted the beft Souldiers in aWAfia.They compofe a great part/of the King oiPerfta\ 

 Cavalry, who keeps them in his Court at peculiar pay, and relies very much upon their 

 fidelity and courage. There are feveral alfo in the Service of the Great Mogul 

 The Men are very well complexion'd. and very well fhap'd • and for the Women, 

 they are accounted the faireft and moft beautiful of all Afia\ and therefore out of 

 this Countrey it is that the King of Perfia choofes all his Wives, being not permitted 

 to marry a Stranger. Tefa, where the Women have more liberty than in any 

 part of Afia y is the Capital City of Georgia, well fituated, large and well built, 

 where there likewife is a great Trade in Silk. 



CHAP. 



