630 General Notes. 
Over one-third of these live on the upper Skenes Skali, and are 
more or less merged with the surrounding Mingrelian populations. 
The Suanetians are not in the odor of sanctity. At best they 
are sheep-stealers and cattle-lifters. They were converted to 
Christianity before the tenth century, but may now be fairly 
escribed as reverted pagans. Seven hundred years ago Suanetia 
formed part of the kingdom of the famous Georgian Queen 
Thamara, in whose honor the Suanetians still chant ballads. For 
awhile it was connected with Mingrelia, but at some time in the 
last century it became entirely unattached, and the upper part of 
the Ingur valley still bears the name o Suanetia. The 
country is covered with small chapels, dating probably from the 
11th and 12th centuries, but these are no longer used as churches, 
but as treasure-houses. Long before Suanetia had obtained home 
rule, it had disestablished its church, An hereditary caste of local 
sisted in sewing together the garments of the bride and bride- 
groom, and the ancient funeral ceremonies were revived. There 
are traces of tree-worship and also of that of the heavenly bodies. 
The natural tendency of the population to increase beyond the 
' supporting powers of the territory was effectually checked by placing 
a pinch of ashes in the mouth of every superfluous female baby- 
Russia assumed suzerainty over this district in 1833, and has 
gradually tightened her sway, appointing headmen or starchinas m 
every commune, and establishing several schools, as well as placing 
its representative at Betsho in a position to command some 
respect and obedience. The Suaneti are rather a farming than a 
pastoral people, though they keep a few flocks of sheep and herds 
of horses. ere does not seem to be a prevalent type among the 
The architecture of the Suanetian villages is striking. Towers and 
castles abound. Mestia has seventy towers forty to seventy feet high ; 
Ushkul about fifty and two castles. The towers, constructed for 
defence, are of untrimmed black slate, and are attached to houses 
built of the same material. 
