OF SEVERAL PARTS OF AVESTERN ASIA. 401 



within about sixty miles of it, we had our first distinct view of the 

 whole mountain ; and so lofty is it, that it seemed within eight or 

 ten miles of us. Our nearest view was at the village of Khorvirab, 

 about two miles from the base. The river Ai'as (the ancient 

 Araxes) rolled between us and the mountain. The higher Ararat is 

 almost a perfect cone. The upper part, about one third of the whole, 

 is covered with eternal snow. The thermometer (Fahr.) ranged 

 from ninety-five to one hundred and five degi'ees, when we passed 

 it, August 11 and 12; and yet the scorching sun, under which we 

 almost melted, seemed to make not the least impression on the hoary 

 shroud of Ararat. The snow on its top and sides appeared of im- 

 mense depth, and perfectly smooth, as though never broken or ruf- 

 fled by the track of man, beast, or bird. On the lower Ararat, when 

 we passed it, the snow lay only in patches." 



" An immense plain, at least fifty miles in length, and from fifteen 

 to twenty miles in breadth, perfectly level, and extremely fertile, 

 stretches along the norfh and east sides of the mountain. At the 

 northeast extremity of this plain is the city of Erivan ; and twelve 

 miles to the west, Etchmiazren, the celebrated Armenian convent, 

 and the ecclesiastical metropolis of that nation. Ai'ound this plain 

 are mountains, hanging in broken in-egular piles, and indicating 

 terrible convulsions in order to bring them into their present forms. 

 At a distance they appear like ledges of lava ; but, as you approach 

 them, you generally find that their volcanic aspect is the effect of 

 their naked exposure to the scorching sun." 



" The physical features of the north of Persia," says Mr. Perkins, 

 in another connexion, " are rather peculiar. There is no undulating 

 land, or almost none. The country is divided into flat plains or val- 

 leys, surrounded and intersected by precipitous craggy mountains 

 and ridges. The plains are very large and level. They are also 

 extremely fertile. 



" The western side of Mount Ararat presents a very different 

 aspect from the eastern. It is less steep, symmetrical, and beauti- 

 ful ; but equally grand and imposing. About the southwestern base 

 of this mountain, the surface of the ground, to the distance of fifteen 

 or twenty miles, is rugged, and covered with stones from the size of 

 a goose-egg to that of a man's head, which give strong indication of 

 having been in a state of partial fusion." 



