When the bourdyouk is prepared, it is laid on its back, the legs being in the air; and any person who chances to pass by while it is being filled, his the right to enter the maranya and taste the wine.
There is no export trade, but a small quantity of the wine of Kalhety is sent annually to Moscow,
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
Having obtained the nectssaiy sauctioo from the authorities, and permission from the proprietor of the land, I opened six graves at M'zhett, with the following results: —
First Grave. — Depth of soil, 2 feet 4 inches. Came to two small stone slabs. Upon their removal was disclosed a child's grave fornied of six sepulchral bricks, two being upon each side, and one at either end. This little grave — length 3 feet 6 inches, width 14 inches — was filled with earth, and lay east and west. At the east end was a portion of cranium. Body had been laid full length. Near the cranium were composition beads for a necklace; small bronze ring also found. Unable to bring away bones, owing to condition. The term ' sepulchral bricks,' is employed advisedly, such bricks having been found in these graves only, and appear to have been extensively employed for the purpose.
Second Grave. — Depth of soil, 3 feet Came to three large sandstone slabs, close and well-fitting. Grave fiill of earth and stones, some of the latter being la^e iragments. At east end bad been undoubtedly interred a body in a seated posture. Portions of cranium well to the front and near the end of slab; upon carefully removing the' earth, came to vertebne of the neck, then to portions of ribs, then to sternum, and finally, the femurs, which were lying close up to a comer. At west end, remains of four fullgrown bodies, of a youth's, and of a child's. I have been guided hCTe chiefly by the craniai' These bodies must have been huddled in, and
< Presented to the Anlbropol<^i:al Institute. Of one of these skults (see plate p. 1S2), now at the Royal Collie of Sui^^eons, Professor Busk has ol>served that it was a wellmarked example of the so-called ' macrocephalous' crania of Geo^ and the countries round Ibe ifaoies of the Euxtne. These skulls, whose deformation precisely resembles thai of the so-called Titicaca skulls from Peru, have formed the subject of an excellent moncffisph by Professor V. Baer,* and ttiey are of particular interest as affording an
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
by Google buried at one time. No relics; found several small pieces of obsidian, shaped like sharp flint tools, as also pieces of mixed matter which bad passed through lire — a conglomeration of calcined bones, wood, stone, &c Length of grave 5 feet 3 inches, width 2 feet 4 inches, depth 2 feet 4 inches.
Third Grave. — Head slab, showing very slightly above the sui&ce. Covering slabs bad been probably taken away at some remote period; soil excavated, 14 inches. Came to six sepulchral bncks, laid flat and loosely; upon carefully removing the eaith, found at the east end, remains of a seated figure and of a child, a small bronze ring, and portions fA iron ornaments, also fragments of glass bottles. At the west end, were som remains, recumbent. length of grave, 5 feet lo inches, width 3 feet, depth 4 feet 8 inches.
Fourth Grave. — Immediately beneath the surface were remains, recumbent Head, east Immediately beneath, three huge irregularly shaped slabs. One skull at the east and one skull at the west end. Unable 10 determine position of bodies. Portion of twonze pin, head of pin in gdd, fragments of glass. Length of grave, 5 feet lo inches, width 2 feet (i inches, depth 7 feet
Fifth Grave, — Depth of soil, 3 feet Came to two large, evenly filtiiig slabs — one slab split. At east end, remains were in a recumbent position; two bronze hair-piiis (similar hair-pins, in silver, are worn at the present day in Geoigia), portions of iron ornaments, and fragments of glass boHlts. At west end, seated remains; both femurs close up to a comer, as in No. 2 grave; found a small flat sun-dried dish of the coarsest nuke- Length, width, and depth, as Na 2.
Sixth Grave. — Close to the surface, and had been disturbed at some remote period.
With the exception of No. i grave, these tombs were all alike, being formed of four large slabs of sandstone for the sides and ends, coveted with two or three smaller slabs — the bottoms being the natural soil. The largest grave opened by Mr. Betem was double — one grave being above the other, each measuring, length S feet 2 inches, width 3 feet 6 inches,