John Malcolm, Sketches of Persia (1827)

Major General Sir John Malcolm (1769-1833) was a Scottish soldier and diplomat who had served as the British East India Company administrator and envoy to Persia during the Napoleonic Wars. While in Persia, Malcolm maintained a journal that he later published under the title of Sketches of Persia, from the Journals of a Traveller in the East (London, 1827). Malcolm had met many Georgians in Persia and left interesting descriptions of them, some of which are presented below. 

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Aga Ibrahim had been a great trafficker in the slaves, male and female, which the army of Aga Mahomed [Agha Mohammad Shah of Persia] brought from Georgia in his irruption into that country in 1797 [1795]. He had retained one in his own family, of whom he appeared dotingly fond. The more wine he took, the more he spoke of his favourite Mariamne. “I have often,” said he, “offered to marry her, if she would only become a Mahomedan, but all in vain; and really, when she is on her knees praying before her cross, or chanting hymns to the Virgin Mary, she looks so beautiful, and sings so sweetly, that I have twenty times been tempted to turn Christian myself. Besides, I can hardly think of Paradise as delightful without Mariamne !”

***

Before leaving Abusheher we had received many proofs of the favour of the Prince Regent of Shiraz. Soon after our arrival at that place, a favourite officer of his Guards brought a present of twelve mule-loads of fruit. When this young man came to pay his respects to the Elchee, Khojah Arratoon [Armenian merchant, known by the name of 'Blue Beard'] desired to withdraw. When asked the reason: “Why,” said he, “the person who is deputed by the Prince Regent is a Georgian, the son of my next door neighbour in Tiflis. When Aga Mahomed Khan [Agha Mohammad Shah of Persia] plundered that city in 1797 [should be 1795], he was made a prisoner, with twenty or thirty thousand young persons of both sexes; and having since been compelled to become a Mahomedan, and now enjoying high rank, he may be embarrassed at seeing me.” The Envoy said, “It does not signify, you are my Treasurer, and must be present at the visit of ceremony; depend upon it he will not notice you.” It was as predicted; the bearer of the present, a very handsome young man, superbly dressed, and of finished manners, appeared to have no knowledge of Arratoon, though his eye rested on him once or twice. When the visit was over, the good Armenian could not contain himself: “That vile Mahomedan wretch," he exclaimed, “he has lost sight and feeling, as well as religion and virtue. Have I given him sweetmeats so often, to be stared at as a stranger? I should like to know who was his father, that he should look down upon me. It will be a mournful tale,” he concluded, “that I shall have to write to his mother, who is in great distress, and who, poor deluded creatures lives in hopes that there is still some good in this dog of a son of hers.” 

There was a mixture of wounded pride, of disappointment, and humanity, in Blue-beard's sentiments, that made them at once amusing, and affecting. He came, however, early next morning to the Envoy with a very different countenance, and evidently deeply affected. “What injustice have I not done,” said he, “to that excellent young man! He sent a secret messenger to me last night; and when we met, ran to embrace me, and after telling me the short tale of his captivity, sufferings, and subsequent advancement, inquired in the most earnest manner after his mother. He has not only given a hundred tomans to relieve her immediate wants, but has settled that I am to be the Agent for future remittances. He informed me that he recognized the friend of his youth, and never had more difficulty than in the effort to appear a stranger; but he explained his reasons for being so cautious: he is not only a Mahomedan, but has married into a respectable family, and is a great favourite with the Prince, and must, therefore, avoid any conduct that could bring the least shade of suspicion on the sincerity of his faith or allegiance. I shall make his mother very happy,” continued Blue-beard, who was evidently quite flattered by the personal attention of the young Georgian, and the confidence reposed in him; “for I will, when I send her the tomans, tell her my conviction, that her son, whatever he may profess, is a Christian in his heart. Indeed he must be so; for if he had been a true Mahomedan he would have acted like one, and have disowned, not supported, his mother, whom he must consider an infidel.” 

Jan Janszoon Struys, The perillous and most unhappy voyages of John Struys, 1676

Jan Janszoon Struys was the Dutch sailor and sail maker who traveled widely in Asia for almost three decades starting in 1647. In September 1668, he and seventeen other Dutchmen, led by Captain David Butler, decided to travel to Moscow and to enter the Russian service. In Moscow, Struys and his companion acquired a ship and sailed down the Volga River to Astrakhan. However, they could not have chosen a worse moment to reach this city since a Cossack rebellion, led by Stenka Razin, erupted in the region and the Cossacks sacked the town. The Dutchmen fled from Astrakhan and tried sailing to Darband but bad weather forced them to land on the coast of Daghestan, where they were taken prisoner and sold into slavery. The Dutchmen remained in slavery for a year. Struys was taken to Yerevan, where he was sold on June 12 to a Persian, who  then took him to Darband, where he was sold again to a Persian who took him to Šamāḵi, where he was sold, at his own request  in October 1670, to Bogdan Gurdziecki, an Armenian/Georgian from Georgia who served as the Ambassador of the King of Poland to Persia (for details click here). 

Struys and other Dutchmen were ultimately freed through the intercession of the Dutch East India Company, which asked Shah Solayman of Iran for help in freeing the captives. After being freed in November 1671, Struys crossed Iran to reach Bandar Abbas, from where he returned to the Netherlands in October 1673. Three years later he published an interesting memoir, "J. J. Struys Drie aanmerkelijke en seer rampspoedige Reysen," about his travails in the East. The book was highly successful and went through numerous editions, being translated into German, French and English. 

While in captivity, Struys came across many Georgians, though few of them left good impressions on him. The selections below are from the 1694 English edition, with minor stylistic changes. 

"My Patron had bought not long before 2 Georgian Girls for Slaves, the one of 11, and the other of 12 years old, with whom he lay by turns, which was no small trouble to his Wife, who was herself not above 26 years of Age, and therefore very unwilling to be a Widow with a living husband."

[...]

On 1 November, I was sent for by the Ambassador [of Poland Bogdan Gurdziecki], where being introduced into the Parlor, he speedily bad me sit down, and fell to asking many Questions about my Nation, and my coming to be a Slave. I told him all from the Beginning to the End. He then called for a Bowl of Wine, and bade me drink. Whilst I sat there, two young Georgian Girls were brought to the Door, who being stole by the Dagestan Tartars, of handsome Bodies and tolerable Beauties as also the Ambassador's own Country Women, he had compassion of them and bought them for the value of 100 Crowns. These he kept for Warming Pans, and would upon Occasion, when he made any Feast, cause them to dance: nor did they much seem to be concern'd at the loss of those heavy burthens called Maidenheads [virginity], although the Art is to know where they first got rid of them."

[...]

[In the fall of 1670, Ambassador Gurdziecki became involved in a dispute with fellow Poles.] On November 2 came the Sister of the Ambassador, and his Brother with a great Retinue and Pomp. Their Reception was with an Extravagant Banquet, which continued several days. So long as this banqueting lasted, there was such Gluttony, Drunkness and Prodigality, indeed such beastliness shown, that I almost abhorred the name of a Christian, when on the other side I saw the Mahometans point at them, who are themselves very abstemious and temperate. Yet this only was to gratify the Georgians and Persians, for [the Ambassador] demeaned himself very churlishly [rudely] towards the Polish Gentry who were sent to grace his Person as a Retinue. Scarce were they ever admitted into his presence; he took their allowance in Diet [food] and Habit [clothing].

At last having spent the Money they brought with them out of Poland, the Poles were reduced to such poverty that they went up and down like Beggars, being ashamed to come into honest Company, for besides their costly Attire which he always kept locked up, he would not allow them a sufficiency of Linen to keep themselves clean. If any offered to complain, he threatened to sell them for Slaves, which tended to the great detriment of those his Domestics, and Dishonour of the King and Crown of Poland. This bred in the Polish Gentry such disaffection that they resolved often times to have revenge; but as those who know themselves conscious of such ill demeanor are ever in fear of their Persons, so he who knew himself guilty of such wicked doings, had always a certain number of his own Nation [Georgians] to secure and guard him. However they once finding opportunity, and being already come to the very End of Patience, attacked him with their Swords and Axes, as he was about to leave his Dining-Room, where they chopped and mangled him so that he lay for dead upon the Floor, in the Portic, having received 17 grievous Wounds, and lost three Fingers of his Right hand.

Yet by the great diligence and skill of his surgeon, who was then at hand, he was restored to his former Health and Sanity. This outrage as it could not but engender bad blood, so it rendered the Ambassador much more spiteful than before, and that very night to be revenged, he sent a Georgian Soldier to Paniegros, a Polish Gentleman, who was Assistant in this Embassy, and equally empowered to treat with the Ministers of State at the Persian Court, and therefore reckoned by [Gurdziecki] as an obstruction in the Promotion of his Interest, as well as being ready to represent the Occasion of these Tumults to the [Polish] King, in such manner as might tend to [Gurdziecki's] disadvantage. Yet it ought to be understood of this Gentleman [Paniegros], that he neither gave encouragement, nor knew any thing of that extravagant Action [attempted murder]. The Georgian having obtained entrance [to Paniegros's appartment], ran to his bedside and there most inhumanly murdered him whilst asleep. This Paniegros was a Gentleman of a brave conduct, and withall of a meek temper, having purchased the Love even of those that seemed to be his Lot-enemies for his prudent and civil deportment, He had lived for some years together at Amsterdam, and spoke very good Nether-dutch.

 The rest of the Polish Nation were arrested and secured, some whereof were fast in Chains. Nor with this did the Ambassador hold up, but daily revenged himself of the Poles, which he used as Slaves; and the more to oversaw them he enlisted several Georgian soldiers to guard his Body. The Prince of Scamachy now sensible of the Differences and sad disorder of affairs, took upon himself the Office of a Mediator and decided the matter so well that the imprisoned Parties were set again at liberty. Yet they were no better treated [by the Ambassador] than before as to their Sustenance and Maintenance, whereas one Man might easily eat the Allowance he gave for 8. Meanwhile the Ambassador continued banqueting with those of his own Nation [Georgians], that an Ox a day would not have been too much, if it were not for variety and change of Diet. He bought 13 Kine [cows] which he sent out into the Field, and set me to look after them, but finding my elf at a loss for food, I assumed the liberty to tell his Excellency that he must please to send me something to eat in the Field. His answer was: "If you will have any thing, steal a cow from the Persians, and help your self so." But that Commission I took occasion to let alone, being sensible that my masters Order would not excuse me. Thus I suffered more hunger than in all my life, and sore against my will intimated the matter to my former Patron Hadsi Biram [Ḥājji Bayām], who gave me this reply, I told you of it before-hand, what a villain that Georgian is, That he was but a Christian in show, and far too base to be a Musulman. And certainly the Gentleman had good reason on his side: for this Ambassadour well knowing what Beer was brewed for him at the Court in Warsaw, dispatches his Brother to the King at Ispahan, to supplicate that they might both be circumcised, pretending that now knowing better things than he had hitherto done, therefore could not have Peace or Rest in Conscience, but continual Horror and Inquietude, if he were not admitted as a member in Mahometanism [Islam]. But they had such ample and clear Information at [the Safavid] Court of his Life and Behaviour, that they easily perceived upon what account he did it, and consequently declined his Request. Shortly after he also received a Mandate from Ispahan to depart immediately for Poland, which was acceptable news for the Polish Gentry, hoping at once to be rid of that Slavery and Misery they suffered. After my old Patron had discoursed me a little about this affair, took his leave of me, saying, "John, I am very sorry for your condition, please therefore come twice a day to my house and eat, or at what time you are hungry. I shall give my wife order, upon my Absence to give you food." These words were the sweetest music, I must confess, I heard in Persia; and certainly he. who was a Mahometan, far surpassed my Georgian Master in Charity, who had rather feed Dogs he kept for his pleasure, than Christian-strangers, even if these were his own Domestics.

[...]

On [April] 25 a Persian of reputed Sanctity was murdered by a Georgian after a very base degenerate manner. The Murderer was forthwith apprehended and brought before the Prince, where he was accused of the Fact, and consequently delivered to the nearest Allies of the Patient to use at their discretion, as is customary in Persia; for rarely it happens that either the King, Prince, Deputy or the Civil Magistracy take notice of such delinquencies, but turn over the Malefactor to the aggrieved Parties, who if they be Poor oftentimes sell their Vengeance for Money, after which the Law is silent. However in this case the Delinquent had not that Fortune because the Brother of the Murdered Party had neither Poverty nor Mercy, and as soon as permission was granted him, he caused two Men to hold [the Georgian] down while he had stabbed him with the same Weapon, saying, "Go, you drunken Dog, to the Devil to whom you belong;" for the Georgian was a drunken Fellow, and executed in the same fit of Drunkenness wherein he had so far mistaken himself, so that the Murder, Complaint and Execution were all done in the space of three Hours.

Charles G. Addison, Damascus and Palmyra (1838)

In the spring of  1835, British lawyer and traveler Charles G. Addison (1812-1866) embarked on a journey to the Eastern Mediterranean, visiting Constantinople, Syria and Palestine. He kept a travel journal that was later published as Damascus and Palmyra: A Journey to the East, with a sketch of the state and prospects of Syria under Ibrahim Pasha (London: Richard Bentley, 1838). Upon landing in Constantinople, Addison visited a local slave market where he encountered a Georgian slave.

As my companions were descending the gallery, I caught sight of a youthful looking figure in an inner room. I made a halt at the door, the girl turned, her veil was hanging back upon her shoulders, and one of the loveliest faces I ever saw was suddenly presented to my view. She appeared about eighteen, was tall and slight, had a fair complexion, and melting black eyes, which looked out from under her white veil in a most melancholy manner. I was rooted to the spot; she made no attempt to move, or cover her face, till an old Turk suddenly appeared from the inside, and seeing me at the door, let out a volley of unintelligible words. Our dragoman came up and hurried me away, telling me that I ought never to quit the party, or get out of his sight. He said the girl was a Georgian, and that her master would not sell her at any price to an Infidel. The girl, from what I could see, appeared very handsomely dressed, and quite above the common herd. The dragoman said it was unusual to see so choice a one at the market, and thought she must have been brought out by express appointment with a purchaser, as the handsomest are kept at home, and sold there. 

The Jews are the chief dealers in slaves, and teach them to dance, sing, play on instruments, and every thing that can create admiration or inspire passion. It is said that the Russians deal a good deal in this horrible slave traffick in the Black Sea, from the countries bordering on which the choicest women are brought. The Georgian princes seize them, and sell them to the slave merchants who frequent Trebizond and the ports of Mingrelia. Two or three Russian travelers with whom I met had slaves with them...

Robert C. Money, Journal of a tour in Persia, during the years 1824 & 1825 (1828)

Robert Money was an officer in the British East India Company's Civil Service. In 1824 he traveled, in the company of a British colonel, from Bushire to Shiraz, Persepolis, Isfahan, Tehran, Hamadan, Kermanshaw and Baghdad. He wrote numerous letters desciribing his experiences and encounters to his parents, who later transcribed them and published as "Journal of a tour in Persia, during the years 1824 & 1825" (London, 1828). Below is an excerpt from one such letter, written in early August 1824, when Money and his companions reached Shiraz.

We found the caravanserai a good one, with private rooms where the Prince retires when he comes to

shoot and hunt, and adjoining it a small fort where the villagers live, and large hummaums. We slept there on the terrace, and remained the next day. The thermometer, in the rooms, we found to be only 82 and 83 at twelve o'clock; and we have determined therefore on living there. 

We rode back to Shiraz in the evening. A curious scene took place on the top of the caravanserai during our dinner. Ibrahim Beg came with a most grave visage, and holding, or rather lugging by one ear a Georgian slave, begged [British] Colonel S. to receive him as a present; adding, that he had educated him and looked on him as his son, that he had been twenty years in his service, knew how to read and write, &c. &c. The poor fellow seemed to wish it. S. thanked him, but said he could not possibly accept the slave. 

In the evening Ibrahim came up again, and said, "Well, my heart is much lighter: I have given the man his liberation." The Georgian soon followed with a countenance expressive of great gratitude, begged the Colonel to put his seal with several other witnesses in the presence of his former master, and then said that he had three or four hundred rupees in ready cash, and one thousand sheep, all which he left to his master Ibrahim Beg. The Beg added, "What! you'll leave me then, and the two children you have brought up?" He said, " he loved his master, but home was dearer to him: that he would go and kiss his two children, and leaving every thing he possessed to his master would go to Georgia." 

[...] Many Georgian slaves have been begging for Ibrahim Beg's intercession with their masters, since they see he is so inclined. They say they will not quit their masters; but that it is very cruel that their children should, though their mothers are Persians and free, be liable to be sold and transferred to any master a capricious man may choose to give them.

Brown, A brief account of some travels in divers parts of Europe (1685)

Edward Brown, A brief account of some travels in divers parts of Europe viz Hungaria, Servia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Thessaly, Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, and Friuli : through a great part of Germany, and the Low-Countries : through Marca Trevisana, and Lombardy on both sides of the Po : with some observations on the gold, silver, copper, quick-silver mines, and the baths and mineral waters in those parts : as also, the description of many antiquities, habits, fortifications and remarkable places (London : Printed for Benj. Tooke ..., 1685)

The Turks, who are well acquainted with the Captives of several Nations, make observations of them: so they say, a Russian is best for the Oar, a Georgian - makes a good Courtier, and an Albanian, a good Counsellor. A Turk in our company, observing a Georgian Captive much dejected at his Condition, encouraged him, and bid him be of good cheer, telling him he might come to be a great Man, and one of the best in Turkey.