TEFLIS, the capital of Persian Georgia in Asia, situated on the river Kur or Cyrus, in E. Long. 47. 20. N. Lat. 43°. It is not large; but, according to Sir John Chardin, one of the finest cities in the east, with strong walls on all sides, except on the east, where it is covered by the river Kur. On the south side of it stands a large castle or fortress, built by the Turks in 1576, when they made themselves masters of the city and country, under the command of the famed Mustapha Pacha. The city is very populous, and a place of great trade, especially in furs, which are conveyed hence to Constantinople by the way of Erzerum. As for the silks of this country, they are bought up on the spot by the Armenians, and conveyed to Smyrna and other ports of the Mediterranean; but the greatest part is first sent to Erzerum to be manufactured, the Georgians being very ignorant and unskilful in that respect. From hence, likewise, great quantities of a root called baya, is sent to Erzerum and Indostan, for the use of the linen dyers. There are some magnificent caravanseras, bazars, and palaces, in the city. Of the last, those of the viceroys of Carthuel and Caket are the chief. They reckon no less than 14 churches in the city; one half of them belonging to the Georgians, and the other to the Armenians. As for mosques, the Georgians, it is said, have never suffered any to be built, tho' they are under a Mohammedan government; but have always risen up in arms as often as any attempts have been made to erect such, and destroyed them. Here are some Romish Capuchins, as missionaries; but they go under the denomination of physicians, surgeons, or chemists, which three professions are in great esteem in the east. The great cures they make, and the small fees they take, which are generally in wine, meal, cattle, or young slaves, procure them some esteem, though they are often exposed to the insults of the people, especially when they attempt to make any proselytes to their church. The inhabitants of Teflis are computed at near 20,000; viz. 4000 Armenians, 3000 Mohammedans, 2000 Georgians, and about 500 Romish Armenians, who are much hated by the others: the rest are Persians or strangers, that are continually coming and going.