A mountainous tract prevails towards tlie south-west of
each of these districts, and there are plains towards the
opposite quarter. The climate in winter is mild, and in
summer moderate. The soil is good, and the country is well
watered. There are some mineral springs in each district,
and copper mines have been recently discovered in Kazakh.
The timber in both attains a large size; and vegetable products,
as well as animals, are abundant. The two circles, of
Bambak-Shuragel and Bortchalin lie between Kazakh and
Kars. The former extends southward, from Bortchalin to
the district of Erivan, and has a diversified surface.
Bambak, the central portion, contains about 709 square
miles, and consists of a valley 23 miles long, inclosed by two
chains of mountains. Shuragel lies southward of these
^chains, and has about 423 miles of surface, which consists of
plains, with mountains at intervals; and northward is the
plain of Lory, which is surrounded on all sides by mountains,
and contains 1650 square miles. The soil, climate, and products
vary considerably; and the inhabitants consist of 2008
Tartars and Greeks, with 28,668 Armenians, of whom 21,207
were transported from Erz-Rum and its vicinity after the
Turkish war of 1829.1 In the territory there is hut one
town, Ghoumry, which is in the central district of Shuragel,
on the banks of the Arpah-ehai, and contains 503 houses.2
Bortchalin contains 2640 square miles; it lies between
Kazakh, Bambak, and Kars, and has, to the north, the
districts of Tiflis and Gori. The northern and western portions,
with part of the southern, are covered with mountains
branching from Ararat. Towards the eastern side there is
an extensive plain, and elsewhere there are others of small
size; there are, besides, several small valleys. It is watered
by the Kur, the Khram, the Alghete, and other streams;
it contains, also, a great many lakes full of fish. In general
the soil of the district is good, hut the climate varies, and
fever prevails in the lower parts of the country. The mountains
to the north and west are covered with forests ; and
1 Aperçu, &c., Tome II., pp. 293 to 306 2 Ibid.
elsewhere are the ordinary vegetable productions and animals.
The population consists of 15,263 Tartars, 6542 Armenians,
1273 Greeks, 1205 Georgians, and 384 Germans, who are
occupied with agricultural and pastoral pursuits.
Karketia extends westward from Sheki to Kartelinia on
the Kur ; and it has the crests of the Caucasus, with part of
the Lezgi country, on the north ; its superficies is about 4S0O
square miles, and it contains two principal districts, Signakh
and Telâv.
The former lies at the eastern side, and has Telâv on the
west, Dj aro Belokane on the north, the territory of the
Sultan of Elis on the east, and the Kur on the south and
south-east. Towards the north it is mountainous, and contains
the summit ridge of the Caucasus, of which the most
elevated peaks are to the N.E. ; but along the river Yori
there are extensive plains.
The climate of these plains is warm and unhealthy in
summer, and mild in winter ; but a severe cold prevails in
the elevated districts. Mineral springs are found in the
country, and forest trees are abundant. Madder is cultivated,
in addition to other vegetable products. The population
consists of 49,371 Georgians, 6204 Armenians, with 1106
Tartars. Signakh, the capital, is fortified, but it is small,
and is neither well situated nor handsome.
Telâv is the western portion, and it has the crests of thé
Caucasus on the north; on the east it has Signakh, and
on the west Duchet and Tiflis. To the S.E. the province
has mountains and forests ; and again, towards the. north,
there is a limestone range running parallel to the crests of
the Caucasus. The soil is a mixture of clay, chalk, and
black earth ; and the district is watered by the Alazani and
the Yori, with their numerous affluents. The climate of the
elevated districts is good; but fevers prevail in the lower
parts, near the banks of the Yori, where the temperature is
high. The forests, the vegetables, and the animals, resemble
those of the adjoining district. Telâv contains 100 villages, and
it has a population of 48,286 Georgians, 6519 Armenians,
1388 Tartars, and 238 Wurtemburgers. The houses of the