Gurians

Gurians, a historical people of West Caucasia, whose territory lies on the Black Sea coast south of the river Rion. They are members of the Georgian family [Georgians], and closely resemble the Georgians proper in usages, speech, and traditions. But there are two physical types, that of the uplands, distinguished by blue eyes and light hair, and that of the lowlands, marked by black eyes and black hair. The Gurians, originally subjects of the princes of Imeritia, acquired their independence in the fifteenth century, but were soon afterwards reduced by the Turks who were succeeded by the Russians in 1810 (Teule, Pensees, etc., vol. ii.).