anciently COLCHIS, a part of Western Georgia, in Asia; bounded on the east by Iberia, or Georgia properly so called; on the west, by the Euxine sea; on the south, by Armenia, and part Mingrelia of Pontus; and on the north, by Mount Caucasus.

Colchis, or Mingrelia, is watered by a great many rivers; as the Corax, the Hippus, the Cyaneus, the Charidus, the Phasis, where the Argonauts landed, the Abasrus, the Cissus, and the Ophis, all emptying themselves into the Euxine sea. The Phasis does not spring from the mountains in Armenia, near the sources of the Euphrates, the Araxes, and the Tigris, as Strabo, Pliny, Ptolemy, Dionysius, and after them Arrian, Reland, Calmet, and Sanfion, have falsely asserted; but rises in Mount Caucasus; and flows not from south to north, but from north to south, as appears from the map of Colchis or Mingrelia in Thevenot's collection, and the account which Sir John Chardin gives of that country. This river forms in its course a small island called also Phasis: whence the pheasants, if Isidorus is to be credited, were first brought to Europe, and thence called by the Greeks Phasiani. The other rivers of Colchis are considerable.

The whole kingdom of Colchis was in ancient times very pleasant and fruitful, as it is still where duly cultivated; abounded in all necessaries of life; and was enriched with many mines of gold, which gave occasion to the fable of the Golden Fleece and the Argonautic expedition, so much celebrated by the ancients.

Sir John Chardin tells us, that this country extends above 100 miles in length and 60 in breadth; being not near so extensive as the ancient Colchis, which reached from the frontiers of Iberia or Georgia Proper, westward to the Palus Maeoticus: that it is beautifully diversified with hills, mountains, valleys, woods, and plains, but badly cultivated; that there are all the kinds of fruits which are found in England, growing wild, but tasteless and insipid for want of culture: that, if the natives understood the art of making wines, those of this country would be the finest in the world: that there are many rivers which have their source in Mount Caucasus, particularly the Phasis, now called the Rione: that the country abounds in beesves, hogs, wild boars, flags, and other venison; and in partridges, pheasants, and quails: that falcons, eagles, pelicans, lions, leopards, tygers, wolves, and jackals, breed on Mount Caucasus, and sometimes greatly annoy the country: that the people are generally handsome, the men strong and well made, and the women very beautiful; but both sexes very vicious and debauched: that they marry their nieces, aunts, or other relations, indifferently; and take two or three wives. MIN

Mingrelia, wives if they please, and as many concubines as they will: that they not only make a common practice of killing their children, but even murder them, or bury them alive, when they find it difficult to bring them up: that the common people use a sort of paste, made of a plant called gom, instead of bread; but that of the better sort consists of wheat, barley, or rice: that the gentry have an absolute power over their vassals, which extends to life, liberty, and estate: that their arms are the bow and arrow, the lance, the sabre or broadsword, and the buckler: that they are very natty, and eat sitting cross-legged upon a carpet, like the Persians; but the poorer sort upon a mat or bench, in the same posture: that the country is very thin of inhabitants, no less than 12,000 being supposed to be fed yearly to the Turks and Persians: that the principal commodities exported from it are, honey, wax, hides, caftor, martens skins, flax seed, thread, silk, and linen cloth; but that there are no gold or silver mines now, and very little money: that the revenue of the prince or viceroy amounts to about 20,000 crowns per annum: that the inhabitants call themselves Christians; but that both they and their priests are altogether illiterate, and ignorant of the doctrines and precepts of Christianity: that their bishops are rich, have a great number of vassals, and are clothed in scarlet and velvet: and that their service is according to the rites of the Greek church, with a mixture of Judaism and Paganism.

The cities of most note in this country in ancient times were Pityus; Dioscurias, or Dioscorias, which was so called from Castor and Pollux, two of the Argonauts, by whom it is supposed to have been founded, and who in Greek are styled Dioscuri, at present known by the name of Savatapoli; Aca on the Pindus, supposed to be the same as Hippolis; Phaestus, so called from the river on which it stood; Cyta, at the mouth of the river Cynaeus, the birthplace of the famous Medea, called from thence, by the poets, Cyteis; Saracae, Zadris, Suriem, Madia, and Zolifia. As for modern cities, it does not appear that there are any here considerable enough to merit a description; or, if there are, they seem to be little, if at all, known to Europeans.