SAGANLOOK. 
155 
princes, be reluctant to part with any existing memorial of such 
national consequence, be it no more than a name ! But the Geor¬ 
gians, for several generations preceding their union with Russia, 
had, in retaining this name—that of an independent kingdom— 
been actually suffering the utmost miseries of subjugation; from 
the feebleness of their native rulers, and the terrible evils which 
poured into their undefended country, from the Mahometan 
powers, and the barbarous hordes of the mountains. In becoming 
part of Russia, the doors were shut against these oppressors; 
and the rescued people soon found the substantial superiority of 
living in prosperity and peace, under the name, and with the 
rights, of a province attached to so great an empire, to all the 
vain glories of being called a kingdom ; — to the shade, rather 
than the substance, of majesty, seated in the throne of their past 
monarchs; while real tyrants, in the shapes of Lesghees and 
other invaders, ravaged the country, and usurped the authorities 
of the state. 
During our advance to Saganlook, which is about twelve 
wersts from Tiflis, we observed many picturesque objects; and, 
amongst them, other time-worn memorials of the extinct dynasty 
of the last Georgian kings, and their yet more famous predeces¬ 
sors. On the eastern shore of the river, at a short ^distance 
from our proposed quarters, we saw the remains of one of the 
old fortresses, on the nearest heights; and, subjacent to them, 
two as ancient towers, with the ruins of a bridge at their foot, 
which had formerly been connected with the line of the present 
road. On arriving at Saganlook, the place marked out for the 
termination of our first day’s march, we found tents pitched for 
our reception, and an excellent supper, prepared by the Governor- 
general’s orders. The village was about half a mile from the 
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