Colchos the Holland of antiquity. [71]

[Footnote 65: The Periplus, or circumnavigation of the Euxine Sea, was
described in Latin by Sallust, and in Greek by Arrian: I. The former
work, which no longer exists, has been restored by the singular
diligence of M. de Brosses, first president of the parliament of Dijon,
(Hist. de la Republique Romaine, tom. ii. l. iii. p. 199--298,) who
ventures to assume the character of the Roman historian. His description
of the Euxine is ingeniously formed of all the fragments of the
original, and of all the Greeks and Latins whom Sallust might copy, or
by whom he might be copied; and the merit of the execution atones for
the whimsical design. 2. The Periplus of Arrian is addressed to the
emperor Hadrian, (in Geograph. Minor. Hudson, tom. i.,) and contains
whatever the governor of Pontus had seen from Trebizond to Dioscurias;
whatever he had heard from Dioscurias to the Danube; and whatever he
knew from the Danube to Trebizond.]

[Footnote 66: Besides the many occasional hints from the poets,
historians &c., of antiquity, we may consult the geographical
descriptions of Colchos, by Strabo (l. xi. p. 760--765) and Pliny,
(Hist. Natur. vi. 5, 19, &c.)]

[Footnote 67: I shall quote, and have used, three modern descriptions
of Mingrelia and the adjacent countries. 1. Of the Pere Archangeli
Lamberti, (Relations de Thevenot, part i. p. 31-52, with a map,) who
has all the knowledge and prejudices of a missionary. 2. Of Chardia,
(Voyages en Perse, tom. i. p. 54, 68-168.) His observations are
judicious and his own adventures in the country are still more
instructive than his observations. 3. Of Peyssonel, (Observations sur
les Peuples Barbares, p. 49, 50, 51, 58 62, 64, 65, 71, &c., and a more
recent treatise, Sur le Commerce de la Mer Noire, tom. ii. p. 1--53.)
He had long resided at Caffa, as consul of France; and his erudition is
less valuable than his experience.]

[Footnote 68: Pliny, Hist. Natur. l. xxxiii. 15. The gold and silver
mines of Colchos attracted the Argonauts, (Strab. l. i. p. 77.) The
sagacious Chardin could find no gold in mines, rivers, or elsewhere.
Yet a Mingrelian lost his hand and foot for showing some specimens at
Constantinople of native gold]

[Footnote 69: Herodot. l. ii. c. 104, 105, p. 150, 151. Diodor. Sicul.
l. i. p. 33, edit. Wesseling. Dionys. Perieget. 689, and Eustath. ad
loc. Schohast ad Apollonium Argonaut. l. iv. 282-291.]

[Footnote 70: Montesquieu, E