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1:24 



The Persian Travels 



Book HI. 



with it. A thief is acquitted , paying feven-fold what he has ftoie j 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 fold : If the 

 Product do not yet equal the Sum, if he have a Wife and Children, they firft fell 

 the Wife, and if that will not do, then they fell the Children: but if the Party 

 robb'd be fo merciful, as to forgive the Thief his Chare, then neither the King nor 

 the Judges can demand anything for their (hare. 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 pleale 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-kinto the Party 

 kill'd. In matter of Debt, a Creditor has power to feize upon all the Eltateof the 

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



The Chriftians of Georgia are very ignorant , efpecially in Matters of Religion. 

 They learn that little they know, in the Monafteries, 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 1 up to labour, or fent to the Wars. For if a Virgin grows up, and 

 happens to be handfom , fome one or other prefently endeavors to Ileal her, on pur- 

 pole to fell her into Turkj, Per fa , or the Territories of the great Mogul. So 

 that to prevent their being ftoln, 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 ftay as long as they live : After that , they profefs, 

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

 the holy Oyles , as well as any Bifhop or Arch-Bifhop can do. 



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

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

 reafon, at their Feafts both men and women drink more <±Aqna"jit<t 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 Aquaviu drank than at 

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

 ed with 2 or 3 Difhes of Sweet-meats, and a Glafs of half a pint of Aquavitx 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- 

 cted to- Trader they are very dext'rous in ("hooting with Bow and Arrows, and are 

 accounted the beft Souldiers in allyf/^.They compofe a great part'of the King oi?erfia\ 

 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. Tcflis, where the Women have more liberty than in any 

 part of A/ia, is the Capital City of Georgia^ well fituated, large and well built , 

 where there likewife is a great Trade in Silk. 



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