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Article TRANSCAUCASIA. ← Page 8 of 11 →
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Transcaucasia.
Turks to open the gates . On a sudden two red standards were displayed on the walls : the Turkish commander appeared , and called aloud to the Russians , ' We are not soldiers like those of Erivan and Ears : we are warriors of Akhalzik . Here are neither women nor children ; we will die on the ramparts of our fortress , but Ave will not surrender it without a struggle . An old proverb says , One soldier of Akhalzik is equal to two of Ears and three from Erivan : we will not belie the proverb ! ' The Russians
commenced the assault : the mournful death-songs of tlie Turks were distinctl y audible , whilst they made the responses to the prayers of the Moollah . After a murderous defence , the Russians forced an entrance into the place . Not one Turk accepted his life—every man remained dead upon the spot . " Akhalzik was a point of the greatest importance to the Turks : established herethey ruled and lundered all the districts south of the western
, p Caucasus , and issuing from hence their emissaries sustained the warlike spirit of the Circassians and the Lesghis . Rallying under the standard of the pasha of Akhalzik , the Lesghis robbed and devastated the rich country of Georgia . The Ossetians , Didos , and Djares , overran unchecked the beautiful banks and valleys of the Eoor and Allasan . Kidnapped boys and girls were at that time a sort of merchandise in request , and were brought to Akhalzik , where the great fair for this traffic was held .
From this place the boys and girls were transported to Erzeroum , Trebizond , Teheran , and Constantinople . The Armenians had an especial privilege for this trade , and Akhalzik was of equal importance to the Russians , who , after a sanguinary defence , took the fortress . The Turks had held possession of this important place for two centuries and a half . They all emigrated to Asia Minor . The town is said to contain sixteen thousand inhabitants , eight churches , a synagogue of the Jews , and a Mohammedan mosque .
There exists in Tiflis an institution of guilds , or corporations of the various trades , which was originally derived from Persia ; a remarkable coincidence is the occurrence of precisely the same institutions in Germany during the Middle Ages , and their existence amongst ourselves , down to the present day , in our Livery companies . In Tiflis every trade has its own guild ,
down to the very sack-bearers and poulterers ! Each guild has its head-master , with two assistants , who constitute the court . Whenever a court is held , they must summon the guild , and at least six masters must be present . This court decides all disputes among masters and journeymen ; but criminal cases are referred to the police court . A journeyman
, on applying for the freedom of a trade , presents to the assembled guild the certificate from his master ; and on paying ten roubles into the treasury of the guild , he receives his freedom ; and kneeling before a priest , who is called in for the ceremony , he receives a blessing ; the head master then bestows on him the accolade , and he gives his hand to each of the masters present .
Each guild has its own code of laws . The extent and importance of Georgia have led us to CIAVCII at some length upon this country , and to pass over the adjacent
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Transcaucasia.
Turks to open the gates . On a sudden two red standards were displayed on the walls : the Turkish commander appeared , and called aloud to the Russians , ' We are not soldiers like those of Erivan and Ears : we are warriors of Akhalzik . Here are neither women nor children ; we will die on the ramparts of our fortress , but Ave will not surrender it without a struggle . An old proverb says , One soldier of Akhalzik is equal to two of Ears and three from Erivan : we will not belie the proverb ! ' The Russians
commenced the assault : the mournful death-songs of tlie Turks were distinctl y audible , whilst they made the responses to the prayers of the Moollah . After a murderous defence , the Russians forced an entrance into the place . Not one Turk accepted his life—every man remained dead upon the spot . " Akhalzik was a point of the greatest importance to the Turks : established herethey ruled and lundered all the districts south of the western
, p Caucasus , and issuing from hence their emissaries sustained the warlike spirit of the Circassians and the Lesghis . Rallying under the standard of the pasha of Akhalzik , the Lesghis robbed and devastated the rich country of Georgia . The Ossetians , Didos , and Djares , overran unchecked the beautiful banks and valleys of the Eoor and Allasan . Kidnapped boys and girls were at that time a sort of merchandise in request , and were brought to Akhalzik , where the great fair for this traffic was held .
From this place the boys and girls were transported to Erzeroum , Trebizond , Teheran , and Constantinople . The Armenians had an especial privilege for this trade , and Akhalzik was of equal importance to the Russians , who , after a sanguinary defence , took the fortress . The Turks had held possession of this important place for two centuries and a half . They all emigrated to Asia Minor . The town is said to contain sixteen thousand inhabitants , eight churches , a synagogue of the Jews , and a Mohammedan mosque .
There exists in Tiflis an institution of guilds , or corporations of the various trades , which was originally derived from Persia ; a remarkable coincidence is the occurrence of precisely the same institutions in Germany during the Middle Ages , and their existence amongst ourselves , down to the present day , in our Livery companies . In Tiflis every trade has its own guild ,
down to the very sack-bearers and poulterers ! Each guild has its head-master , with two assistants , who constitute the court . Whenever a court is held , they must summon the guild , and at least six masters must be present . This court decides all disputes among masters and journeymen ; but criminal cases are referred to the police court . A journeyman
, on applying for the freedom of a trade , presents to the assembled guild the certificate from his master ; and on paying ten roubles into the treasury of the guild , he receives his freedom ; and kneeling before a priest , who is called in for the ceremony , he receives a blessing ; the head master then bestows on him the accolade , and he gives his hand to each of the masters present .
Each guild has its own code of laws . The extent and importance of Georgia have led us to CIAVCII at some length upon this country , and to pass over the adjacent