John Fryer, New Account of East-India and Persia (1698)

John Fryer (d. 1733) was English doctor and traveler who had visited Persia and wrote insightful memoir on his experiences. The eldest son of William Fryer, he graduated from the Trinity College in Cambridge in 1664 and later studied medicine at Pembroke College in Cambridge. After completing his studies he was appointed as a surgeon to the East India Company and sailed to India in 1672. He spent the next eight years traveling across India and Persia, publishing his observations in  "New Account of East-India and Persia, in Eight Letters" in 1698. Although Fryer's travelogue fails to rival those of his other contemporaries Jean Chardin, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier or François Bernier, it still contains many interesting observations on society, politics and natural history. 

In Letter V of his book, Fryer turns his attention to the Georgians he had encountered in Persia and below are his observations (original orthography retained).

The next neighbors, if not the same with the Armenians, were the Iberians, now called Georgians, who underwent the same calamities [Persian invasions and resettlements of the early 17th century] with them; but with a contrary disposition of Humour [state of mind], being a Martial People bred up to the Wars, [Georgians] now serve the Emperor [shah of Persia] as his best Infantry; of these, Forty thousand are at present in Arms under Military Pay, in and about Spahaun [Isfahan]. Their Country at this time bears the name of Gurgestan, from whence they are Christen'd Georgians; not from the famous St. George, but because they follow Husbandry [agriculture]. They were converted to the Christian Faith near the same time with the Armenians; which they still retain, and maintain their State and Country; but both Christianity and their Country are past their Vertical Point, and are upon their Declension [decline].

[Georgian] Princes , to uphold their Prerogative, are inclined to submit to the Persian Yoke with the Ignominy of Apostatizing, rather than by a stout defiance resist the Temptations and Allurements of Government under the Mahometan Bestiality: Such Power has the Ambitious Thirst of Rule.

[Georgians] are Proper, Fresh-colour'd, Well-limb'd People: Their Women so Fair and Beautiful, that the [Persian] Queen-Mother is always of the Family of the Georgian Princes; and for that reason is it their Children are so often sold to Infidels, because they make good Markets of them. Mars [God of War] has the Ascendent over this Nation, as Mercury [Patron of Commerce] has over the Armenians. There is therefore an inveterate Contrariety of Tempers between humour [states of mind] from them; and since the Armenians deserted the Greek Church, this Breach is widen'd ; being impatient at the performance of each others Services in the Churches, the Georgians frequently interrupt them in their Devotions, and doing despite to their Altars on their most Public Solemnities: Such Absurdities does Religion introduce, which should be the only means to cement and unite Mankind in the Bond of Humanity.

The Blame whereof must chiefly lye at the doors of their Prelates , whose obstinacy and Perverseness, abdicating all Force of Reason, are guided by no other impulse than the present Enjoyments of this Life , and keep on foot particular Piques and Animosities, purposely to distract and vex the Church, thereby to carry on their own interest or Ambition; Otherwise, how should it come to pass that those baptized under the same Symbol, and in many ( and the most difficult) Points of Religion are agreeing, should not be all of one Mind in every respect, unless the Idle Dreams and Malicious Practices of the Inorthodox should inculcate Debates and sow Divisions, only to be Head of a Party?