TIFLIS, or TEFLIS, the capital of the Russian province of Georgia, is situated in 41' 41' N. lat., 44' E. long., on the river Kur, at an elevation of 1100 feet above the level of the Black Sea, and has about 50,000 inhabitants. The Kur here flows through a valley con fined between two ranges of lofty mountains. The town stands at the foot of a line of dark and barren hills, whose high and caverued sides gloomily overshadow it. Every house, every building within its walls, seems to share the dismal hue of the surrounding heights. It is built on both sides of the river; but the larger portion, which is on the right or west bank, contains the houses of the wealthiest inhabit ants, the great bazaar, the principal squares, the finest churches, the public offices, the residence of the military governor, and of the commander-in-chief. This is the city properly so called, which again is divided into two parts, the old and new town. The limits of the old town are distinctly marked by the ruins of the ancient fortifications. The new town extends to the north and west beyond these walls, and is distinguished from the old town by its now buildings in the Euro pean style and broader streets. The greater part of It is called by the Georgians Goretuban, that is, the 'street out of the city.' On the left bank is the extensive suburb Awlabar, a large caravansary, the barracks, and the fortress, or citadel, built by the Turks in 1576. Towards the south the town leans against the chain of bills running from the south-west, on the summit of which are extensive ruins of a very ancient fortress; its highest point at the western end of the old wall Is 392 feet above the bridge over the Kur ; towards tho west it rises higher, and thence a small stream of water ie conducted to the city, the bed of which however is generally quite dry except imme diately after rain.
There are in Tiflis 15 Greek churches, 20 Armenian and 2 Roman Catholio churches, some of which are very handsome structures ; several hotels, many elegant shops, a fine bathing establishment, and numerous schools. At a point where the river is hemmed in by rocks, • bridge of a single arch connects the town with the suburb of Awlabar. llera also are the ruins of an ancient fort., church and houses, and about two miles farther from this side of the city stand the remains of another sacred edifice, on the summit of a lofty hill. In the older parts of Tiflis the houses aro ill built, and the streets so narrow that only one carriage can pass through the widest, and in the smaller street. there is scarcely room for a horseman.
Tiflis has been chleey indebted for its celebrity to its warm baths, and Its Georgian name, Tphilisk Alaki, is equivalent to 'warm town.' The building of Tiflis and the transferring of the royal residence to this place from Mzchet, on the declivity of the Caucasus, were effected about the year 455, by king Waktang I., Gork-Aelau. The mineral springs rise in considerable numbers at the south end of tho city, between the strata of limestone, whence they are conducted into the cavern excavated in the solid rock, under one immense roof, divided into different apartmenta for the rnen and the women. These waters are reputed to be very benefioial in rheumatic complaints and cutaneous disorders. The hottest spring marks 115'25' on Fahrenheit's thermo meter; the coldest 74'75'.
The situation of Tillie would certainly make it one of the most delightful spots in the world, if the mountains between which it lies were not totally destitute of trees. They reflect the rays of the sun fruits the southern slope of the Caucasus, and thus produce in the valleys an oppressive heat, which may perhaps be the cause of the bilious dimness prevalent here. The heat in July rises to above 100' Fehr. In 1820 the population did not exceed 15,000, and it now probably exceeds 50,000, about one-half of whom are Armenians, the remainder chiefly Georgians, some Roman Catholics, and about a hundred Mohammedan& It is the residence of a Georgian patriarch, a Georgian metropolitan, and an Armenian archbishop. There are some manufactories of woollen, cotton, and silk.
Tiflis is most favourably situated to bo the medium of an extensive trade between Europe and Asia, but the restrictive tariff of Russia prevents its commerce from attaining its natural expansion ; although since Georgia has bad the advantage of a settled government under the Czar the commercial transactions of Tiflis have vastly increased. European goods were formerly landed at Itedout-Kaleh on tho east coast of the Black Sea, and carried to Tabriz and other towns of the east by way of rise to a most important transit trade. But the high duties on imports imposed by the ukase of 1831, and the vexatious regulations for their transit, have driven all this trade to Trebizond. The trade with Persia is still very important, and is almost entirely in the hands of the Armeuians.