TIFLIS. 
indeed, the natives have been so accustomed to live in a kind of 
half-darkness, from the overshadowing of their mountain, and 
the closeness of their abodes, that light seems no way necessary 
to their vocations. As a proof, they hardly ever apply to the 
effects of a little oil on the opacity of the paper. The streets 
are, without exception, narrow ; and, from the primitive state of 
the pathways, intolerably filthy in wet weather, and dusty in 
dry. However, His Excellency, the Governor, is endeavouring 
to obviate this inconvenience, by ordering them to be paved ; 
which good work is already begun. He is also establishing 
other improvements, by directing all ruinous houses to be either 
repaired, or entirely pulled down, to make way for the erection 
of new ones, according to handsome and more salubrious plans. 
Amongst other works of this nature, carried on during his late 
absence in Persia, are alterations in the bazar, or great market¬ 
place for merchants. This has been totally roofed in, but with 
open circles left in the rafters, for the admission of air and light. 
Long colonnades unite it to the square of the city-guard ; which 
place is also lined with shops, covered from the weather with a 
fine range of pillared arcades ; and the natives themselves, thus 
sheltered in their own persons, and in that of their merchandise, 
from the injurious effects of rain or scorching heat, begin, though 
languidly, to acknowledge that these changes are improve¬ 
ments. The bazar is a narrow street, of a very long and 
winding extent. On each side of it are lines of shops of every 
description, such as fruiterers, grocers, barbers, cooks, mercers, 
sadlers, armourers, &c. &c. all open, whose various articles are 
spread and displayed to the best advantage. Notwithstanding 
the value of some of the merchandise they thus lay forth, subject 
to accident as well as purchase, the place is a free thoroughfare ; 
