Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/159

Mengrelia extends from a Chain of Mountains, that separates it from Georgia to the Black-Sea, and is now divided into three Provinces (every one of which has their King. The first is call'd the Province of Imareté, or Bassa-Shiouk, the king whereof pretends to a superiority over both the other, which is the reason they are often at War, and that with so much cruelty, that when they have tak'n any Prisoners of either side, they sell them into Turkie. They are so accustom'd to sell one another in this Country, that if a man or his wife have any occasion for money, they will go and sell one of their Children, and many times they will exchange a Child for Ribands or other Toyes at the Mercers Shops.

The second Province is that of Mengrelia, and the King of this Province is call'd the King of Dadian.

The third is the Province of Guriel, the King of which Province is call'd the King of Guriel.

The Province of Mengrelia was formerly subject to the King of Bassa-Shiouk, who sent thither a Governour, which is call'd in their language Dadian.

One of those Governours being a person of wit and courage, gain'd so far upon the affection of the People, that they chose him for their King.

The chief of the Province of Guriel, seeing how the Dadian had obtain'd the Kingdom, following the Example of Mengrelia, shook off the Yoke of the King of Bassa-Shiouk, and chose another King among themselves, who keeps his Soveraignty to this day, by the support of the Grand Signor. For when the Dadian rebell'd he enter'd into an Alliance with the Grand Signor, and oblig'd himself to furnish him every year with such a certain quantity of Iron, upon condition that if the King of Bassa-Shiouk should war upon him, he should furnish him with twenty thousand Horse. Of which the Turk was very glad, finding thereby the Country of Mengrelia divided, which being united, was able at any time to have disturb'd him with an Army of fifty thousand Men.

The King of Bassa-Shiouk coynes money of the same bigness and weight with that of the King of Persia. But in regard it is not so fine metal as that of the King of Persia, he would have much a doe to make it pass in the trade between his Subjects and the Persians, which is very great, had he not found an expedient by putting the King of Persia's name upon the Coyn as well as his own, which makes it pass without any difficulty. He would also put the Grand Signor's Name upon his Coyn, but that the Turk coynes none but small money, or Aspers, excepting only some Ducatts which he coines at Cairo. The King of Bassa-Shiouk, as well as the King of Teflis coynes all sort of forreign money.

These three Kings of Bassa-Shiouk, Mengrelia and Guriel, are Christians also. And when they go to war, all the Ecclesiastical Persons attend them; Arch-bishops and Bishops, Priests and Monks: not so much to fight as to encourage the Souldiers.

Being at Constantinople the first time I travell'd into Persia I saw there an Embassador from the King of Mengrelia, whose behaviour gave all the Franks occasion of laughter. The Present which he made the Grand-Signor was in Iron and Steel, and a great number of Slaves. The first time of his Audience, he had a train of above 200 Persons. But every day he sold two or three to defray his expences; So that at his departure, he had none but his Secretary and two Vassals more left. He was a man of pretence but no wit: and every time he went to visit the Grand-Visier, he presum'd to wear the white Bonnet which all the Franks wonder'd at; when they saw that the Grand Visier wink'd at it. For should any other Christian have done so, he had been most certainly put to death, or constrain'd to turn Mahumetan. By which it was apparent how much the Grand Signor valu'd the Friendship of the King of Mengrelia, and how careful he is of offending those that are sent from his Court. He knew those People suffer no affronts, but upon the least word presently draw; besides that there is nothing to be got by provoking them.

This Embassadour going once upon a visit into the Country, returning home wassurpriz'd