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。]