b o o k Kiflar during his imprifonment; and the others were not
. . without great difficulty refcued from the hands o f the barbarian
who had detained him in captivity *. The arrangement
o f thefe papers, which will form a fourth volume o f
his travels, was at firft configned to the care o f Gulden-
ftaedt, but upon his death has been transferred to-Mr. Pallas.
John Anthony Guldernftaedt was born at Riga on the 26th
of April, 174 5 5 received the rudiments of his education in
that town; and in 1763 was admitted into the medical
college o f Berlin. He completed his ftudies at Franckfort
upon the Oder, and in 176 7 received the degree o f do&or
o f phyfick in that univerfity. On account of his knowledge
o f foreign languages, and the confiderable progrefs he had
made in natural hiftory, he was coniidered as a fit perfon to
engage in the expeditions which were planned by the imperial
academy. Being invited to Peterfburgh, he arrived in
that city in 1768, was; created adjunCl o f the academy, and.
afterwards, in 17 70 , member o f that foeietv, and profeffor
o f natural hiftory. In June, 1768, he fat out upon his.
travels, and was abfent' feven years.
From Mofcow, where he continued till March, 1769, he-
palTed to Voronetz, Tzaritzin, Aftracan, and Kiflar, a fortrefs
upon the weftern Choreof the Gafpian, and elofe to the confines
o f Perfia. In 177 0 he examined the diftricts watered by
the rivers Terek,Suniha, and Alkfai in the eaftern extremity
o f Caucafus; and in the conrfe of the enfining year pene-
' trated into Offetia, in the higheft part o f the fame mountain;
where he collected vocabularies of the languages fpokenun
thofe regions, made inquiries into the hiftory of the people,
and difcovered fome traces o f Chriftianity among them.
Having vifited Cabarda and the northern chain of the Can-
* See-Bach. R u ff. Bib), fo r 1775., ‘p , 50.
g cafus,
cafus, he proceeded to Georgia, and was admitted to an au- c^ pdience
o f prince- Heraclius, who was encamped about ten «— v__
miles from Tefflis.
Prince Heraclius *, or as he is called the tzar Iracli, who
made fo bolda ftand againlt the Turks in the laftwar between
the Porte and Ruffia, and now polfeiies all Georgia, Kaketia,
and the two fmall diftricts o f Bortlhal and Kofak, which were
ceded to him by Nadir Shah, is above fixty years old, o f a
middle fize, with a long countenance, a dark complexion,
large eyes, and a fmall beard. He paffed his youth at the
court, and in the army o f the celebrated Nadir Shah, where
he contracted a fondnefs for Perfi-an cuiioms- and manners,
which he has introduced- into his kingdom. He;has feven
fons and fix daughters-. He is much revered and dreaded by
thePerfian khans his neighbours; and is ufually chofen to ■
mediate between them in their difputes with each other.,..
When they are at war,-he fupports one of the parties with, a
few troops, who diffufe a fpirit and courage among-the:reft,,
beeaufe the Georgian foldiers are efteemed the braveft of.thofe
parts; and prince Heraclius himfelf is renowned for his.cou-
rage and military ikill. When on horfeback .lie. has.always
a pair of loaded piftols at his girdle, and, i f the enemy is
near, a mufket flung over his fhoulder. In all engagements
he is the foremoft to give examples o f perfonal' bravery ;
and frequently charges the enemy«at the head o f his .troops
with the fabre in his hand. He loves pomp and expence ;
he has adopted the chefs o f Perfia ; and regulates, his court
after the manner of that country.. From the example o f the
Ruffian troops, who were quartered in Georgia during the
laftTurkiih war, he has learnt the ufe of plates, knives, and
forks, dilhes, and houfehold furniture, &c, Although his.
* “ See J o u ra . S t P e t .1 z.779-, p . 328«
revenues