262 



THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



Like the Jews, the majority of the 

 Armenians are scattered all over the face 

 of the earth. They live for the most 

 part in separate communities, and passion- 

 ately cherish the spirit of national 

 brotherhood. Wherever they may be, 

 their affections always turn to the moun- 

 tains and plains west of the Euphrates, 

 which they still regard as their home. 

 These contain the places which they 

 esteem more sacred than any others on 

 earth. Armenians are to be found in 

 almost all Turkish provinces, but chiefly 

 that of Erzeroum. By no means the 

 most numerous part of the nation lives 

 in Asia Minor. A large number live in 

 Erivan, a province acquired from Persia 

 by Russia some thirty years ago. Alto- 

 gether there are about 800,000 in the 

 Russian Empire. Many Armenians are 

 merchants in Persia, where they have a 

 colony near Ispahan. Others, again, are 

 found in European Turkey, while in India 

 they share with Jews and Parsis almost 

 the entire monopoly of banking. They 

 appear in the great commercial cities of 

 the Mediterranean, in the Austrian Empire, 

 and in Africa. Armenians have long been 

 established in Great Britain, where they 

 are chiefly engaged in commercial pur- 

 suits. They have been settled at Manchester since 1840. In 1862 they were numerous 

 enough to rent a private house for the celebration of divine worship. In 1870 they built a 

 church, where service is conducted every Sunday according to Armenian ritual. Armenian 

 merchants are established at Liverpool. In London they form a considerable community. Occa- 

 sionally a few Armenians study at Edinburgh and Oxford. 



Creyle gives an interesting account of the national costume of Armenian ladies. The way 

 in which they are muffled and swathed when they appear in the streets entirely conceals their 

 charms. In their own homes they present a very different appearance. When not dressed up 

 to receive visitors, their ordinary costume consists of a pair of very loose, bright-coloured trousers, 

 secured tightly over the ankle, so as to expose the naked foot. The upper part of the body 

 is covered with a chemise, which is made in such a way as to leave the throat bare. It is 

 fastened tightly round the waist with a gold, silver, or velvet baud. It goes down outside the 

 trousers as far as the knee. Over this appears a kind of embroidered waistcoat, cut square, open 

 in front, and secured with a string just below the bosom. These three garments complete 

 their costume when they are enjoying the ease and privacy of their homes. Their hair, which 

 is usually silky black and of abundant growth, falls down the back in a great thick plait, tied 

 up at the end with bunches of ribbon. When obliged to show themselves to strangers, they 

 sacrifice nearly all this easy grace and beauty to modern fashions. They encase their feet in 

 square-toed French boots, which hardly ever fit, and invariably give the wearers an awkward 

 gait when they move. The trousers, chemise, and embroidered waistcoat are all covered up 

 with a bright green, red, or yellow silk gown. This is made in such a way, and so badly put 

 on, that, when looked at from behind, the ladies appear awkward, misshapen, and squat. 



By ptrmtuiOH of .Vr;w.v. Xewton cfc Co., 3, Flti-t Sft-ftf. E.<". 

 A KURDISH MOUNTAIN CHIEF (HEAD OF TRIBE). 



