'Travels from India to England : comprehending a visit to the Burman Empire, and a journey through Persia, Asia Minor, European Turkey, &c., in the years 1825-26, by James Edward Alexander' [‎282] (377/412)

28V
APPENDIX.
or twelve thousand disciplined Jaribaz (contemners of life), is but an untrained
rabble, who plunder their own countrymen more frequently than their enemy,
and, under pretence of collecting contributions for the prosecution of the war,
rob the villagers, as well as travellers, of their valuables. The Russian force
on the southern side of the Caucasus consisted of thirty-two thousand infantry,
twelve hundred dragoons, six thousand Cossacks, and two battalions of artil
lery ; but they were mostly dispersed in detachments throughout Georgia.
Previous to the two armies coming into actual contact several affairs had
taken place, in which both parties had been, at different points, successful.
The Surdar of Erivan, who had distinguished himself during the previous
war, was not idle. A Russian force, seven thousand strong, with twelve
battering guns, under the direction of the chief engineer, had been collected
at Karakalissa, evidently with a view of reducing Erivan. The Surdar had,
however, taken Goomree, slaughtering the male inhabitants (who were Arme
nians), whose heads he sent into camp. He recovered Gokcha, Balikloo and
Aberan from the Russians, and had taken about five hundred prisoners; Ka
rakalissa was evacuated on his approach, the Russian force which occupied it
retiring upon Looree, a stronger position^ after the reinforcement from Ganja had
been cutoff by the Moollah of that place, as already mentioned. The Surdar and
his troops are represented by the Persian accounts to have had a narrow escape
upon entering Karakalissa: the Russian commandant had dug a mine, intending
to blow up the Surdar's army as they entered the town; but it exploded too
soon and did no harm.
The Prince Royal directed his march towards Sheesha, in Karabaugh, at the
end of July. This is a rich and beautiful country; the vallies are covered with
forests of the finest timber, from whence it derives its name of « The Black
Garden." Wild oats wave luxuriantly over the plains for miles together, far,
indeed, as the eye can reach; whilst the landscape is improved and the soil
fertilized by the clear streams of numerous rivers which meander through the
yallies, where herds of deer abound.
Sheesha is a considerable town; its inhabitants are partly Tartars and partly
Armenians.