Missionary Researches in Armenia (Volume 25); Including a Journey Through Asia Minor, and Into Georgia and Persia, with a Visit to the Nestorian and C

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1834. Excerpt: ... LETTER V. TIFLIS. Description of the city--Its taverns--River Koor--Climate--Different costumes--PoliceProvinces of the Government of the Caucasus--Nature of the government--Influence of the Russians upon the intelligence and morals of the natives--Population of the city--Commercial character of the Armenians--Trade of these provinces--Intemperance--Archbishop Nurses--His Armenian academy--Printing press--Armenian diocese of GeorgiaInterview with Bishop Serope--Armenian gymnasium at Moscow--Armenian churches and forma of worship--Image worship-Protestant worship at New Tiflis--Observance of the Sabbath. Dkar Sir, Tiflis occupies the right bank of the Koor, in a contracted valley formed by irregular mountains parallel with the stream on the side of the city, and hills coming down in a point quite to the water's edge on the other. A circular fort covers this point, and, together with a small suburb, is united to the city by a bridge of a single wooden arch, thrown over the river, here confined to a narrow channel: while the ruined walls of an old citadel crown the top, and extend down the side of a part of the opposite mountain. The mountains and hills around exhibit only the cheerless prospect of perfectly naked rocks, and the only look-out they afford is toward the north, where the valley opens and discloses, at a distance of at least sixty miles, the snowy summit of mount Cazbek, one of the highest peaks of the Caucasus. The old and native part of the city is built upon the truly oriental plan of irregular narrow lanes, and still more irregular and diminutive houses, thrown together in all the endless combinations of accident. Here and there, European taste, aided by Russian power, has worked out a passable road for carriages, or built a decent house ove...