Identifier: visittorussiansi00phib (find matches)
Title: A visit to the Russians in central Asia
Year: 1899 (1890s)
Authors: Phibbs, Isabelle Mary
Subjects: Russians -- Asia, Central Asia, Central -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : K. Paul, Trench, Trübner & co., ltd.
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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offered to 14 A Visit to the Russians your attention, probably the very thing- that youwould not admire. The silver waist-buckles,in tiny imitation of the Georgian belt anddaofoer, are very prettv. The word Kavkaz—Caucasus—is imprinted upon almost everyobject from daggers to thimbles. P\irs andcarpets may be bought by connoisseurs, but Ican say nothing on the subject; doubting myown judgment and detesting the haggling ofthe bazaars, I contented myself with smallpurchases. The Hotel dOrient is exactly opposite to aeoreeous modern church, beside which is theRoyal Palace, and immediately behind thembegins the ascent to wild mountains, fromwhich may be enjoyed glorious views of theCaucasian Mountains. Kasbek, the giant, threethousand feet higher than Mont Blanc, towersover all, Mount Elbruz not l)eing within view.The pilgrimage church of St David is a con-spicuous j)oint in most views of Tiflis. One ofthe most interesting sights is the naturallywarm stream known to the Romans and used
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in Central Asia i 7 for baths ; there are remains of late Romanwork, Opus Saracenesca, and in this streamthe TiHis women work hard at washing; asusual in the East, a man who Is supposed tosuperintend, does nothing. It is curious to seebrightly coloured carpets plunged into theflowing water. The modern baths arc quite up-to-date, offering every refinement ofluxury. The soldiers bazaar is held every Sundayin a small park, and the curious medley ofcheap objects offered for sale is extremelyamusing. I saw large sacks containing theseeds of the Pinus Strobus, commonly used forfood. A more good-tempered crowd it wouldbe impossible to find. Georgian is the lan-guage chiefly spoken. There are two Catholic churches in Tiflis.The Polish church, always crowded with sol-diers on Sunday ; and the Armenian, which isalso very poor. The long ranges of mountains on each sideof the valley of the Kur are very tempting to 18 A Visit to the Russians those who care for exercise in the Eng^lishsense of the

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