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COXE’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA 843
He quitted in April 1772, Einzelle, a {mall trading place in Ghilan, on the fouthern
fhore of the Cafpian, but, on account of many difficulties and dangers, did not, until
the fecond of December 1773, reach Sallian, a town fituated at the mouth of the river
Koor, From thence he proceeded to Baku and Kuba, in the province of Shirvan,
where he met with a friendly reception from Ali Feth Khan, the fovereign of that dif-
tri. After he had been joined by twenty Uralian Coffacs, and when he was only
four days’ journey from the Ruffian fortrefs Kiflar, he and his companions were, on the
5th of February 1774, arrefted by order of Ufméi Khan, a petty Tartar Prince, through
whofe territories he was obliged to pafs. Ufméi urged, as a pretence for this arreft,
that thirty years before feveral families had efcaped from his dominions, and found an
afylum in the Ruffian territories ; adding, that Gmelin fhould not be releafed until thefe
families were reftored. The profeflor was removed from prifon to prifon, till wearied
out with continual perfecutions, he expired on the 27th of July at Achmet-Kent, a vil-
lage of Mount Caucafus. His death was occafioned partly by vexation for the lofs of
feveral papers and collections, and partly by diforders contracted from the fatigues
of his long journey. Some of his papers were fent to Kiflar during his imprifonment ;
and the others were refcued from the hands of the barbarian who detained him in cap-
tivity *.
folie Anthony Guldenftaedt was born at Riga, on the 26th of April 1745, received
the rudiments of his education in that town, and in 1763 was admitted into the medical
college of Berlin. He completed his ftudies at Franckfort upon the Oder, and in 1767
received the degree of doctor of phyfic in that univerfity: On account ofhis knowledge
of foreign languages, and progrefsin natural hiftory, he was confidered as a fit perfon
to engage in the expeditions planned by the Imperial Academy. Being invited to Pe-
terfburgh, he arrived in that city in 1768, was created adjunct of the Academy, and in
1770, member of that fociety, and profeflor of natural hiftory. In June 1768 he com-
menced his travels, and was abfent feven years. From Mofcow, where he continued
till March 1769, he paffed to Voronetz, Tzaritzin, Aftracan, and Kiflar, a fortrefs on
the weftern fhore of the Cafpian, and clofe to the confines of Perfia. In 1770 he exa-
mined the diftri€ts watered by the rivers Terek, Sunfha, and Alkfai, in the eaftern ex-
tremity of Caucafus, and in the courfe of the enfuing year penetrated into Offetia, in the
higheft part of the fame mountain, where he collected vocabularies of the language,
made inquiries into the hiftory of the people, and difcovered fome traces of chriftianity
among them. Having vifited Cabarda, and the northern chain of the Caucafus, he
proceeded to Georgia, and was admitted to an audience of Prince Heraclius +, who was
encamped about ten miles from Tefilis.
The
* See Bach. Ruff. Bibl. for 1775, p. 50.
+ Prince Heraclius, or, as he was called, the Tzar Iracli, who made fo bold a ftand again the Turke
in the laft war between the Porte and Ruffia, and poffefled all Georgia, Kaketi, and the two {mall diftrids
of Bortthal and Kofak, which were ceded to him by Nadir Shah, was then above fixty years old, of a middle
fize, with a long countenance, a dark complexion, large eyes, and a {mall beard. He pafled his youth at
the court and in the army of the celebrated Nadir Shah, where he contraéted a fondnefs for Perfian cuf-
toms and manners, which he introduced into his kingdom. He had feven fonsand fix daughters. He was
much revered and dreaded by the Perfian Khans, his neighbours, and ufually chofen to mediate between
them in their difputes with each other. When they were at war, he fupported one of the parties with a
few troops, who diffufed a {pirit and courage among the reft, becaufe the Georgian foldiers were efteemed
the braveft of thofe parts, and Prince Heraclius himfelf was renowned for his courage and military fkill.
When on horfeback, he always had a pair of loaded piftols at his girdle, and, if the enemy was near, a muf.
ket flung over his fhoulder. In all engagements he was the foremoit to give examples of perfonal bravery,
and frequently charged the enemy at the head of his troops. He loved pomp and expence ; he =
5B 2 the
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