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12 THE EXPLORATION OF THE CAUCASUS
tions, a great cross enriched with scenes of martyrdom, two silver
cups, Italian in character, massive silver jugs. Some of these
Signor Sella succeeded in photographing. At Lenjer is a manu-
script of the Gospels, copied at Jerusalem in I04G-48— no inscrip-
tions or manuscripts prior to the eleventh century are forthcoming ;
at Latal a Gospel in an ornamental binding, manuscripts rolled on
'S -^'
ANCIENT CHURCH ORNAMENTS AT MESTIA
governed by a King :
sticks, bells bearing Greek and
Latin inscriptions ; at Ezeri, in
the Prince's possession, a silver-
gilt box, with Kufic inscriptions,
and a massive silver bowl of
Persian work.
It is obvious that an expert
from South Kensino'ton niis^ht
spend a very interesting holiday
in Suanetia, and that the history
of the country may be further
elucidated, if no greater
discoveries
are made, by a student
competent to look over the
ancient rolls and manuscripts.
This seems the best place
to
give a brief sketch of the history
and orio-in of the Suanetians.
Students will find in the second
volume of Dubois de Montpereux's
work on the Caucasus, or in M. de
Bernoville's Souanetie Libre, fuller
information and amjile references.
Strabo describes the Soani
as a powerful nation, who were
and a Council of Three Hundred he adds
that they wei-e in the habit of using poisoned weapons in war.
The statement in the received text that they could assemble two
hundred thousand fighting men must, even if the name is loosely
applied to a confederation of the Kolkhian tribes, be taken to