ALBANIA, a country of Asia, bounded on the west by Iberia; on the east by the Caspian sea; on the north by mount Caucasus; on the south by Armenia, and the river Cyrus, now Kur; which, springing from the Moschian mountains that separate Colchis from Armenia, and watering the country of Mokan, receives the Aragus and Araxes, and falls into the Caspian sea within a small distance from the southern borders of this country.—The whole country formerly called Albania, now goes under the names of Shirwan and East-Georgia, and is extremely fruitful and pleasant. The ancient historians take notice of the Albanian men being tall, strong-bodied, and, generally speaking, of a very graceful appearance; far excelling all other nations in comeliness, as well as stature. Modern travellers take no notice of the appearance of the men; but extol the beauty of the women, which seems to be unnoticed by the ancients. The Albanians were anciently an independent and pretty powerful people; but we find no mention made of their kings till the reign of Alexander the Great, to whom the king of Albania is said to have presented a dog of an extraordinary fierceness and size.—It does not appear that the Albanians were ever conquered by the Romans, even when their
Albano, their power was at its greatest height; though, when Alban. they ventured to engage in war with that powerful empire, they were always defeated, as might naturally be expected.