Imeritians

Imeritians (Imerians), the inhabitants of the Caucasian province of Imeritia, which extends west of the Suram range as far as the Tzchemis-Tzchali river. Imerian is the correct form, meaning "People of the other side," in reference to the mountains separating them from the bulk of the Georgian race, of which they are a western branch. They are the highlanders, as opposed to the Mingrelian lowlanders of the Rion basin. All are comprised in the Russian administrative province of Kutais since 1810, when Solomon II., last ruler of the old kingdom of Imeria, was deposed by the Russians. (Carlo Serena, Excursions dans le Caucase, in Tour du Monde, 40-43.)