TIMUR BEG. 
73 
prepared to enter Georgia, as he had long previ- 
ously meditated. The necessary arrangements being 
made, he marched, during a very severe winter, and 
encamped before Teflis, the capital of that country, 
which surrendered without opposition. Town after 
town followed the example of the metropolis, and the 
whole kingdom was soon subdued. 
The emperor now entered Shirwan, a district in 
the north of Persia, the governor of which submitted 
to his arms without making a single effort to repel 
him. Among the presents brought to the conqueror 
were eight slaves; it being the usage to present 
nine of a sort, where a present consisted of more than 
one, it was remarked in Timur s presence that the 
ninth slave was wanting. The vanquished prince in- 
stantly presented himself to complete the number; 
which so flattered the despot, who had his vanity no 
less than inferior men, that he bestowed upon his 
abject dependant the whole country of Shirwan, with 
its dependencies, allowing him to assume the title of 
king. Other princes followed this example with simi- 
lar success. Even the mountain chiefs, who, protected 
by their hills, woods, marshes, and almost impregna- 
ble fortresses, had hitherto derided the idea of con- 
quest or submission, appeared before Timur and offer- 
ed him their fealty. 
The emperor being informed that the Turkomans 
had robbed several caravans on their way to Mec- 
ca, and that they were continually committing ex- 
cesses in the neighbourhood of their encampments, 
hastened towards them, subdued them, ravaged their 
lands, and carried off their wives and children. He 
H 
