Among the public buildings is the Imperial observatory, and the hospital, a fine edifice erected at a cost of 50,000/.; it has accommodation for zoo patients, is well found, and maintained in a creditable condition on 1,000/. a year.
Trials, but not by jury, as yet unintroduced in the Caucasus, are conducted at the Soudyebnaya PaUta, ' hall of judgment' Whatever the decision of a court, the Governor-General is empowered to reverse it should he see flt to do so; a remarkable case in point occurred a short time before our arrival.
A Tatar, having dissipated his fortune and lands, organised a system, with the aid of his son and two nephews, for setting upon travellers and plundering them. The Tatar eluded the pursuit of justice for a considerable time, but was eventually captured with his kinsmen; they were placed upon their trial for highway robbery with violence, convicted and sentenced to transportation by Google to Siberia. A shrewd advocate having taken up their case, detected an informality in the prosecution which failed to convict at their second trial, and Dedjtamour, his son and nephews, were discharged from custody. At the same moment, however, an officer stepped up and pronounced the detention of the late prisoners by ' administrative authority,' in the name of his Imperial Highness the Governor-General.
One of the nephews having thereupon obtained permission to speak, said aloud: ' We are only too happy to submit to the commands of his Imperial Highness, and consider ourselves prisoners during his pleasure; but we are still more happy to find that the law in this land deals justice, for we are declared innocent of the crimes that were imputed to us! ' These men had been over four years in jail, where I saw them confined in separate cells.
A spare day in the Transcaucasian capital may be agreeably spent in revisiting the bazaars and inspecting the carpets, silks, silver ornaments, and other articles of native industry. Of carpets and rugs in the Tiflis market, those from Persia are the best and most prized, although ^^pardaghy of Karadagh, at 6 or 8 roubles, is considered a good and useful rug. In the choicest Persian carpets the pile is close, no unevenness can be detected over its surface even on the nearest inspection, and though soft, it is unyielding to the finger's pressure. In the next quality the pile is longer and may be separated, whether of one or more colours, while in the inferior carpets the coarse pile and rough surface is readily perceived. But apart from these indications the brighter and more decided colours of the best carpets at once attract the eye, when it is wise to reject green, violet, and grey tints, and a carpet before being purchased should be stretched out that in^rfections may be detected. Persian carpets vary in length, but they are always by Google narrow, rarely exceeding 12 feet in breadth, unless made to order; and an idea of their price may be formed when it is stated that an excellent carpet measuring about 14 feet, than which a larger square is seldom to be purchased, may be bought for 100 to 120 roubles; but in making purchases, a fourth of the price asked may be unhesitatingly deducted and an offer made of the balance. It is necessary to resort to this system to avoid imposition, though one so distasteful and contrary to our own usages.
Exciirsions in the neighbourhood of Tiflis are made to the monastery founded by St Anthony in the sixth century, at Mart< koby or Mar^ph, distant 25 versts; to Kodjora 12 versts, and beyond to the cascades of Manglyss, 30 versts. At Betanya, 25 versts, is an estate of Baron Nicolal.
Good sport is to be had within easy distance of the city, as I gathered from the reports of keepers and the dealers at the market-place, whose statements I have reason to believe are correct.
March — Wild boar, wild goat, pheasant, and woodcock; at Byeloy Kloutch, 50 to 60 versls west of Tiflis.
April — Quail, in all parts.
September to December — Bear, ibex, elafus, fox, and pheasant; at Byeloy Kloutch.
January — Bear, ibex, elafus, wolf, hyxna, fox, and pheasant; at Byeloy Kloutch.
February — Wolf, hyjena, antelope {subguHerosa), and pheasant; at Karayass, 40 to $0 versts, also at Kodjora, excepting the antelope.
The koiirotchka or ickourfhy, ' partridge of the Caucasus,' is found in all the j)laces above mentioned, where permission to shoot is obtained without any difficulty.
by Google
We took leave of the Russian officials, to whose courtesy we were greatly indebted, for they were at all times most obliging, and in the evening we left Tiflis by rail, for Koutais.