334 Memoir of a Hindu Colony in Ancient Armenia. [June, 



the acclivity of the mountain, Arzan and Demetr rushed out from 

 the ambuscade, and on a signal being given, the trumpets of war were 

 sounded, and a furious attack was instantly commenced. This was 

 enough to alarm the Christian princes, whose horses took fright from 

 the sound of the trumpets, and began to neigh and plunge, and create 

 the greatest confusion. Hereupon, the prince of the house of Angl 

 raised his voice and cried, ' Prince of the Seunies, step forward and 

 see whether these are the troops of the prince of the north.' The 

 necessary inquiries were made, but no satisfactory information was 

 obtained. The prince of the Seunies returned and insisted on the 

 removal of St. Gregory and his companions to a secure place, lest, 

 he feared, they might be made prisoners by the enemy, which event 

 would surely excite the a iger of the king, and bring the Christian 

 princes into disgrace. ' Send then,' added he, ' a trusty person to 

 recall our troops, for the number of the enemy is alarmingly great, 

 and innumerable flags are seen waving in the air.' 



" No sooner was the warning given, than the prince of the house of 

 Angl, gave charge of St. Gregory to the prince of the Mocks, with 

 instructions to convey him to the castle of Oilcan, and there to await 

 the issue of the battle. Information of this was immediately sent to 

 the troops. The prince of the Mocks, accompanied by St. Gregory, 

 descended the declivity of the mountain, wishing to repair to Kuars. 

 They met with great resistance on the way from a party of the 

 enemy, but by the help of Providence, at last succeeded in effecting 

 their escape. We were, however, pursued by a number of villagers, 

 but being mounted on swift horses, took refuge in the castle of 

 Olkan, where we met with a timely assistance and protection. The 

 villagers having proceeded to the town of Kuars, informed its people 

 of the place of our retreat. The castle of Olkan was, therefore, 

 instantly besieged. We were thus seized with apprehensions for 

 our safety, and forthwith dispatched a messenger with letters to the 

 prince of the house of Angl, conveying him information of the peril- 

 ous situation in which we were then placed. He immediately sent 

 us four thousand troops, all selected from the army, and furnished 

 with swords, who crossed the river and reached their destination on 

 the following day. After a siege of three days, they took possession 

 of the town of Kuars, and reduced its walls to ruins, and razed all 

 its houses to the ground. The people of the place, that had escaped 

 the stroke of the sword, were conducted to Meghti. 



" The Christian princes being apprised of this, ascended the moun- 

 tain, and descried Arzan in ambuscade with four hundred men, more 

 or less. They immediately made a sortie on the enemy, and put 



