Georgians and Circassians in scarlet tunics and silver cartridge-belts, Turks in fez and frock-coat, Greeks and Albanians in snowy petticoats and black gaiters, Khivans in furs and quaint conical lamb's-wool hats, Tartars from the Steppes, Turkomans from Merv, Parsees from Bombay, African negroes,--all may be seen in the Tiflis Bazaar during the busy part of the day.
But woe to the luckless European who, tempted by the beauty of their wares, has dealings with the wily Persian merchant.

There is a proverb in Tiflis that "It takes two Jews to rob an Armenian, two Armenians to rob a Persian," and the "accursed Faringi" is mercilessly swindled whenever he ventures upon a bargain.
With the exception of the aforesaid boulevard, the European quarter of Tiflis presents the same mixture of squalor and grandeur found in most Russian towns, St.Petersburg not excepted.

There is the same dead, drab look about the streets and houses, the same absence of colour, the same indescribable smell of mud, leather, and drainage, familiar to all who have visited Asiatic Russia.

I had intended remaining a couple of days, at most, in Tiflis, but my stay was now indefinitely prolonged.

Such a severe winter had not been known for years.