theprincelytownofCyta，orCotatis，consistsoftwohundredhouses，andastoneedificeappertainsonlytothemagnificenceofkings。TwelveshipsfromConstantinople，andaboutsixtybarks，ladenwiththefruitsofindustry，annuallycastanchoronthecoast；andthelistofColchianexportsismuchincreased，sincethenativeshadonlyslavesandhidestoofferinexchangeforthecornandsaltwhichtheypurchasedfromthesubjectsofJustinian。Notavestigecanbefoundoftheart，theknowledge，orthenavigation，oftheancientColchians:fewGreeksdesiredordaredtopursuethefootstepsoftheArgonauts；andeventhemarksofanEgyptiancolonyarelostonanearerapproach。TheriteofcircumcisionispractisedonlybytheMahometansoftheEuxine；andthecurledhairandswarthycomplexionofAfricanolongerdisfigurethemostperfectofthehumanrace。ItisintheadjacentclimatesofGeorgia，Mingrelia，andCircassia，thatnaturehasplaced，atleasttooureyes，themodelofbeautyintheshapeofthelimbs，thecoloroftheskin，thesymmetryofthefeatures，andtheexpressionofthecountenance。^73
Accordingtothedestinationofthetwosexes，themenseemedformedforaction，thewomenforlove；andtheperpetualsupplyoffemalesfromMountCaucasushaspurifiedtheblood，andimprovedthebreed，ofthesouthernnationsofAsia。TheproperdistrictofMingrelia，aportiononlyoftheancientColchos，haslongsustainedanexportationoftwelvethousandslaves。Thenumberofprisonersorcriminalswouldbeinadequatetotheannualdemand；butthecommonpeopleareinastateofservitudetotheirlords；theexerciseoffraudorrapineisunpunishedinalawlesscommunity；andthemarketiscontinuallyreplenishedbytheabuseofcivilandpaternalauthority。Suchatrade，^74
whichreducesthehumanspeciestothelevelofcattle，maytendtoencouragemarriageandpopulation，sincethemultitudeofchildrenenrichestheirsordidandinhumanparent。Butthissourceofimpurewealthmustinevitablypoisonthenationalmanners，obliteratethesenseofhonorandvirtue，andalmostextinguishtheinstinctsofnature:theChristiansofGeorgiaandMingreliaarethemostdissoluteofmankind；andtheirchildren，who，inatenderage，aresoldintoforeignslavery，havealreadylearnedtoimitatetherapineofthefatherandtheprostitutionofthemother。Yet，amidsttherudestignorance，theuntaughtnativesdiscoverasingulardexteritybothofmindandhand；andalthoughthewantofunionanddisciplineexposesthemtotheirmorepowerfulneighbors，aboldandintrepidspirithasanimatedtheColchiansofeveryage。InthehostofXerxes，theyservedonfoot；andtheirarmswereadaggerorajavelin，awoodencasque，andabucklerofrawhides。Butintheirowncountrytheuseofcavalryhasmoregenerallyprevailed:themeanestofthepeasantsdisdainedtowalk；themartialnoblesarepossessed，perhaps，oftwohundredhorses；andabovefivethousandarenumberedinthetrainoftheprinceofMingrelia。TheColchiangovernmenthasbeenalwaysapureandhereditarykingdom；andtheauthorityofthesovereignisonlyrestrainedbytheturbulenceofhissubjects。Whenevertheywereobedient，hecouldleadanumerousarmyintothefield；butsomefaithisrequisitetobelieve，thatthesingletribeoftheSuaniansascomposedoftwohundredthousandsoldiers，orthatthepopulationofMingrelianowamountstofourmillionsofinhabitants。^75
[Footnote72:AGreekhistorian，Timosthenes，hadaffirmed，ineamccc。nationesdissimilibuslinguisdescendere；andthemodestPlinyiscontenttoadd，etposteaanostriscxxx。interpretibusnegotiaibigesta，vi。5Butthewordsnuncdesertacoveramultitudeofpastfictions。]
[Footnote73:BuffonHist。Nat。tom。iii。p。433—437collectstheunanimoussuffrageofnaturalistsandtravellers。If，inthetimeofHerodotus，theywere，andhehadobservedthemwithcare，thispreciousfactisanexampleoftheinfluenceofclimateonaforeigncolony。]
[Footnote74:TheMingrelianambassadorarrivedatConstantinoplewithtwohundredpersons；butheatesoldthemdaybyday，tillhisretinuewasdiminishedtoasecretaryandtwovalets，Tavernier，tom。i。p。365。Topurchasehismistress，aMingreliangentlemansoldtwelvepriestsandhiswifetotheTurks，Chardin，tom。i。p。66。]
[Footnote75:Strabo，l。xi。p。765。Lamberti，RelationdelaMingrelie。YetwemustavoidthecontraryextremeofChardin，whoallowsnomorethan20，000inhabitantstosupplyanannualexportationof12，000slaves；anabsurdityunworthyofthatjudicioustraveller。]
ChapterXLII:StateOfTheBarbaricWorld。
PartIII。
ItwastheboastoftheColchians，thattheirancestorshadcheckedthevictoriesofSesostris；andthedefeatoftheEgyptianislessincrediblethanhissuccessfulprogressasfarasthefootofMountCaucasus。Theysunkwithoutanymemorableeffort，underthearmsofCyrus；followedindistantwarsthestandardofthegreatking，andpresentedhimeveryfifthyearwithonehundredboys，andasmanyvirgins，thefairestproduceoftheland。^76YetheacceptedthisgiftlikethegoldandebonyofIndia，thefrankincenseoftheArabs，orthenegroesandivoryofAethiopia:theColchianswerenotsubjecttothedominionofasatrap，andtheycontinuedtoenjoythenameaswellassubstanceofnationalindependence。^77AfterthefallofthePersianempire，Mithridates，kingofPontus，addedColchostothewidecircleofhisdominionsontheEuxine；andwhenthenativespresumedtorequestthathissonmightreignoverthem，heboundtheambitiousyouthinchainsofgold，anddelegatedaservantinhisplace。InpursuitofMithridates，theRomansadvancedtothebanksofthePhasis，andtheirgalleysascendedtherivertilltheyreachedthecampofPompeyandhislegions。
^78Butthesenate，andafterwardstheemperors，disdainedtoreducethatdistantanduselessconquestintotheformofaprovince。ThefamilyofaGreekrhetoricianwaspermittedtoreigninColchosandtheadjacentkingdomsfromthetimeofMarkAntonytothatofNero；andaftertheraceofPolemo^79wasextinct，theeasternPontus，whichpreservedhisname，extendednofartherthantheneighborhoodofTrebizond。BeyondtheselimitsthefortificationsofHyssus，ofApsarus，ofthePhasis，ofDioscuriasorSebastopolis，andofPityus，wereguardedbysufficientdetachmentsofhorseandfoot；andsixprincesofColchosreceivedtheirdiademsfromthelieutenantsofCaesar。
Oneoftheselieutenants，theeloquentandphilosophicArrian，surveyed，andhasdescribed，theEuxinecoast，underthereignofHadrian。ThegarrisonwhichhereviewedatthemouthofthePhasisconsistedoffourhundredchosenlegionaries；thebrickwallsandtowers，thedoubleditch，andthemilitaryenginesontherampart，renderedthisplaceinaccessibletotheBarbarians:
butthenewsuburbswhichhadbeenbuiltbythemerchantsandveterans，required，intheopinionofArrian，someexternaldefence。^80Asthestrengthoftheempirewasgraduallyimpaired，theRomansstationedonthePhasiswereneitherwithdrawnnorexpelled；andthetribeoftheLazi，^81whoseposterityspeakaforeigndialect，andinhabittheseacoastofTrebizond，imposedtheirnameanddominionontheancientkingdomofColchos。Theirindependencewassooninvadedbyaformidableneighbor，whohadacquired，byarmsandtreaties，thesovereigntyofIberia。ThedependentkingofLazicareceivedhissceptreatthehandsofthePersianmonarch，andthesuccessorsofConstantineacquiescedinthisinjuriousclaim，whichwasproudlyurgedasarightofimmemorialprescription。Inthebeginningofthesixthcentury，theirinfluencewasrestoredbytheintroductionofChristianity，whichtheMingreliansstillprofesswithbecomingzeal，withoutunderstandingthedoctrines，orobservingtheprecepts，oftheirreligion。Afterthedeceaseofhisfather，Zathuswasexaltedtotheregaldignitybythefavorofthegreatking；butthepiousyouthabhorredtheceremoniesoftheMagi，andsought，inthepalaceofConstantinople，anorthodoxbaptism，anoblewife，andtheallianceoftheemperorJustin。ThekingofLazicawassolemnlyinvestedwiththediadem，andhiscloakandtunicofwhitesilk，withagoldborder，displayed，inrichembroidery，thefigureofhisnewpatron；whosoothedthejealousyofthePersiancourt，andexcusedtherevoltofColchos，bythevenerablenamesofhospitalityandreligion。ThecommoninterestofbothempiresimposedontheColchiansthedutyofguardingthepassesofMountCaucasus，whereawallofsixtymilesisnowdefendedbythemonthlyserviceofthemusketeersofMingrelia。^82
[Footnote76:Herodot。l。iii。c。97。See，inl。vii。c。79，theirarmsandserviceintheexpeditionofXerxesagainstGreece。]
[Footnote77:Xenophon，whohadencounteredtheColchiansinhisretreat，Anabasis，l。iv。p。320，343，348，edit。Hutchinson；
andFoster'sDissertation，p。liii。—lviii。，inSpelman'sEnglishversion，vol。ii。，styledthem。BeforetheconquestofMithridates，theyarenamedbyAppian，deBell。Mithridatico，c。
15，tom。i。p。661，ofthelastandbestedition，byJohnSchweighaeuser。Lipsae，17858vols。largooctavo。]
[Footnote78:TheconquestofColchosbyMithridatesandPompeyismarkedbyAppiandeBell。Mithridat。andPlutarch，inVit。
Pomp。]
[Footnote79:WemaytracetheriseandfallofthefamilyofPolemo，inStrabo，l。xi。p。755，l。xii。p。867，DionCassius，orXiphilin，p。588，593，601，719，754，915，946，edit。
Reimar，Suetonius，inNeron。c。18，inVespasian，c。8，
Eutropius，vii。14，Josephus，Antiq。Judaic。l。xx。c。7，p。
970，edit。Havercamp，andEusebius，Chron。withScaliger，Animadvers。p。196。]
[Footnote80:InthetimeofProcopius，therewerenoRomanfortsonthePhasis。PityusandSebastopoliswereevacuatedontherumorofthePersians，Goth。l。iv。c。4；butthelatterwasafterwardsrestoredbyJustinian，deEdif。l。iv。c。7。]
[Footnote81:InthetimeofPliny，Arrian，andPtolemy，theLaziwereaparticulartribeonthenorthernskirtsofColchos，Cellarius，Geograph。Antiq。tom。ii。p。222。IntheageofJustinian，theyspread，oratleastreigned，overthewholecountry。Atpresent，theyhavemigratedalongthecoasttowardsTrebizond，andcomposearudesea—faringpeople，withapeculiarlanguage，Chardin，p。149。Peyssonelp。64。]
[Footnote82:JohnMalala，Chron。tom。ii。p。134—137
Theophanes，p。144。Hist。Miscell。l。xv。p。103。Thefactisauthentic，butthedateseemstoorecent。InspeakingoftheirPersianalliance，theLazicontemporariesofJustinianemploythemostobsoletewords，&c。Couldtheybelongtoaconnectionwhichhadnotbeendissolvedabovetwentyyears?]
ButthishonorableconnectionwassooncorruptedbytheavariceandambitionoftheRomans。Degradedfromtherankofallies，theLaziwereincessantlyreminded，bywordsandactions，oftheirdependentstate。Atthedistanceofaday'sjourneybeyondtheApsarus，theybeheldtherisingfortressofPetra，^83
whichcommandedthemaritimecountrytothesouthofthePhasis。
Insteadofbeingprotectedbythevalor，Colchoswasinsultedbythelicentiousness，offoreignmercenaries；thebenefitsofcommercewereconvertedintobaseandvexatiousmonopoly；andGubazes，thenativeprince，wasreducedtoapageantofroyalty，bythesuperiorinfluenceoftheofficersofJustinian。
DisappointedintheirexpectationsofChristianvirtue，theindignantLazireposedsomeconfidenceinthejusticeofanunbeliever。AfteraprivateassurancethattheirambassadorsshouldnotbedeliveredtotheRomans，theypubliclysolicitedthefriendshipandaidofChosroes。ThesagaciousmonarchinstantlydiscernedtheuseandimportanceofColchos；andmeditatedaplanofconquest，whichwasrenewedattheendofathousandyearsbyShahAbbas，thewisestandmostpowerfulofhissuccessors。^84HisambitionwasfiredbythehopeoflaunchingaPersiannavyfromthePhasis，ofcommandingthetradeandnavigationoftheEuxineSea，ofdesolatingthecoastofPontusandBithynia，ofdistressing，perhapsofattacking，Constantinople，andofpersuadingtheBarbariansofEuropetosecondhisarmsandcounselsagainstthecommonenemyofmankind。
UnderthepretenceofaScythianwar，hesilentlyledhistroopstothefrontiersofIberia；theColchianguideswerepreparedtoconductthemthroughthewoodsandalongtheprecipicesofMountCaucasus；andanarrowpathwaslaboriouslyformedintoasafeandspacioushighway，forthemarchofcavalry，andevenofelephants。GubazeslaidhispersonanddiadematthefeetofthekingofPersia；hisColchiansimitatedthesubmissionoftheirprince；andafterthewallsofPetrahadbeenshaken，theRomangarrisonprevented，byacapitulation，theimpendingfuryofthelastassault。ButtheLazisoondiscovered，thattheirimpatiencehadurgedthemtochooseanevilmoreintolerablethanthecalamitieswhichtheystrovetoescape。Themonopolyofsaltandcornwaseffectuallyremovedbythelossofthosevaluablecommodities。TheauthorityofaRomanlegislator，wassucceededbytheprideofanOrientaldespot，whobeheld，withequaldisdain，theslaveswhomhehadexalted，andthekingswhomhehadhumbledbeforethefootstoolofhisthrone。TheadorationoffirewasintroducedintoColchosbythezealoftheMagi:theirintolerantspiritprovokedthefervorofaChristianpeople；andtheprejudiceofnatureoreducationwaswoundedbytheimpiouspracticeofexposingthedeadbodiesoftheirparents，onthesummitofaloftytower，tothecrowsandvulturesoftheair。
^85Consciousoftheincreasinghatred，whichretardedtheexecutionofhisgreatdesigns，thejustNashirvanhadsecretlygivenorderstoassassinatethekingoftheLazi，totransplantthepeopleintosomedistantland，andtofixafaithfulandwarlikecolonyonthebanksofthePhasis。ThewatchfuljealousyoftheColchiansforesawandavertedtheapproachingruin。TheirrepentancewasacceptedatConstantinoplebytheprudence，ratherthanclemency，ofJustinian；andhecommandedDagisteus，withseventhousandRomans，andonethousandoftheZani，toexpelthePersiansfromthecoastoftheEuxine。
[Footnote83:ThesolevestigeofPetrasubsistsinthewritingsofProcopiusandAgathias。MostofthetownsandcastlesofLazicamaybefoundbycomparingtheirnamesandpositionwiththemapofMingrelia，inLamberti。]
[Footnote84:SeetheamusinglettersofPietrodellaValle，theRomantraveler，Viaggi，tom。ii。207，209，213，215，266，286，300，tom。iii。p。54，127。Intheyears1618，1619，and1620，heconversedwithShahAbbas，andstronglyencouragedadesignwhichmighthaveunitedPersiaandEuropeagainsttheircommonenemytheTurk。]
[Footnote85:SeeHerodotus，l。i。c。140，p。69，whospeakswithdiffidence，Larcher，tom。i。p。399—401，NotessurHerodote，Procopius，Persic。l。i。c。11，andAgathias，l。
ii。p。61，62。Thispractice，agreeabletotheZendavesta，Hyde，deRelig。Pers。c。34，p。414—421，demonstratesthattheburialofthePersiankings，Xenophon，Cyropaed。l。viii。p。
658，isaGreekfiction，andthattheirtombscouldbenomorethancenotaphs。]
[Footnote*:TheseseemthesamepeoplecalledSuanians，p。328。
—M。]
ThesiegeofPetra，whichtheRomangeneral，withtheaidoftheLazi，immediatelyundertook，isoneofthemostremarkableactionsoftheage。Thecitywasseatedonacraggyrock，whichhungoverthesea，andcommunicatedbyasteepandnarrowpathwiththeland。Sincetheapproachwasdifficult，theattackmightbedeemedimpossible:thePersianconquerorhadstrengthenedthefortificationsofJustinian；andtheplacesleastinaccessiblewerecoveredbyadditionalbulwarks。Inthisimportantfortress，thevigilanceofChosroeshaddepositedamagazineofoffensiveanddefensivearms，sufficientforfivetimesthenumber，notonlyofthegarrison，butofthebesiegersthemselves。Thestockofflourandsaltprovisionswasadequatetotheconsumptionoffiveyears；thewantofwinewassuppliedbyvinegar；andofgrainfromwhenceastrongliquorwasextracted，andatripleaqueducteludedthediligence，andeventhesuspicions，oftheenemy。ButthefirmestdefenceofPetrawasplacedinthevaloroffifteenhundredPersians，whoresistedtheassaultsoftheRomans，whilst，inasofterveinofearth，aminewassecretlyperforated。Thewall，supportedbyslenderandtemporaryprops，hungtotteringintheair；butDagisteusdelayedtheattacktillhehadsecuredaspecificrecompense；andthetownwasrelievedbeforethereturnofhismessengerfromConstantinople。ThePersiangarrisonwasreducedtofourhundredmen，ofwhomnomorethanfiftywereexemptfromsicknessorwounds；yetsuchhadbeentheirinflexibleperseverance，thattheyconcealedtheirlossesfromtheenemy，byenduring，withoutamurmur，thesightandputrefyingstenchofthedeadbodiesoftheirelevenhundredcompanions。Aftertheirdeliverance，thebreacheswerehastilystoppedwithsand—bags；theminewasreplenishedwithearth；anewwallwaserectedonaframeofsubstantialtimber；andafreshgarrisonofthreethousandmenwasstationedatPetratosustainthelaborsofasecondsiege。
Theoperations，bothoftheattackanddefence，wereconductedwithskilfulobstinacy；andeachpartyderivedusefullessonsfromtheexperienceoftheirpastfaults。Abattering—ramwasinvented，oflightconstructionandpowerfuleffect:itwastransportedandworkedbythehandsoffortysoldiers；andasthestoneswereloosenedbyitsrepeatedstrokes，theyweretornwithlongironhooksfromthewall。Fromthosewalls，ashowerofdartswasincessantlypouredontheheadsoftheassailants；buttheyweremostdangerouslyannoyedbyafierycompositionofsulphurandbitumen，whichinColchosmightwithsomeproprietybenamedtheoilofMedea。OfsixthousandRomanswhomountedthescaling—ladders，theirgeneralBessaswasthefirst，agallantveteranofseventyyearsofage:thecourageoftheirleader，hisfall，andextremedanger，animatedtheirresistibleeffortofhistroops；andtheirprevailingnumbersoppressedthestrength，withoutsubduingthespirit，ofthePersiangarrison。
Thefateofthesevaliantmendeservestobemoredistinctlynoticed。Sevenhundredhadperishedinthesiege，twothousandthreehundredsurvivedtodefendthebreach。Onethousandandseventyweredestroyedwithfireandswordinthelastassault；
andifsevenhundredandthirtyweremadeprisoners，onlyeighteenamongthemwerefoundwithoutthemarksofhonorablewounds。Theremainingfivehundredescapedintothecitadel，whichtheymaintainedwithoutanyhopesofrelief，rejectingthefairesttermsofcapitulationandservice，tilltheywerelostintheflames。Theydiedinobediencetothecommandsoftheirprince；andsuchexamplesofloyaltyandvalormightexcitetheircountrymentodeedsofequaldespairandmoreprosperousevent。
TheinstantdemolitionoftheworksofPetraconfessedtheastonishmentandapprehensionoftheconqueror。