1836.] Memoir of a Hindu Colony in Ancient Armenia. 335 



Arzan to flight. The Armenian troops having heard the din of 

 hattle, immediately crowded to the mountain. Upon this, Arzan 

 began to rally, and heap on the Armenian princes torrents of abuse. 



* Step forward, said he, ' ye base apostates, who disbelieve the gods 

 of your ancestors, and are opposed to the glorious Keisaney. Do 

 you not know that it is Keisaney that wages war with you this day, 

 and will subdue you under our hands, and inflict you with blindness 

 and death ?' The prince of Arzrunies, having rushed forward, said, 



* Thou worthless bully, if you fight on behalf of your gods, you 

 deceive yourselves ; if you fight on behalf of your country, you only 

 display your own folly. Behold the prince of the house of Angl, 

 and the prince of the house of Seunies, and the other nobles, whom 

 you know too well.' To which Demetr, the son of Arzan, thus 

 replied : ' Listen unto lis, ye Armenian princes ! it is now nearly 

 forty years since we are*engaged in the service of the mighty gods. 

 We have an experience of their powers, and are assured that they 

 fight with the enemies of their servants. We are not, however, able 

 to cope with you in battle. This is the habitation of the king of 

 Armenia, and ye are his nobles. But, be it known to you all, that 

 though it is out of our power to conquer you, yet we prefer to die a 

 glorious death to-day in upholding the honor of our gods, than to 

 live and see their temples polluted by you. Death is, therefore, more 

 welcome to us than life.' Having spoken this, Demetr challenged 

 the prince of the house of Angl to a single battle. 



" The prince of the house of Angl having accepted the challenge, 

 made an instantaneous attack on Arzan, who inflicted a wound with 

 his spear on one of the thighs of his antagonist, and was on the 

 point of levelling him to the ground. The prince of the house of 

 Angl having, by an adroit movement, regained his position, thus 

 addressed the enemy : ' Know thou this, Arzan ! that this spot 

 must receive the appellation, by which you are called ; for here thoU 

 art destined to fall, and be fixed like a statue !' No sooner was this 

 spoken, than he lifted up his arm, and aimed a stroke of his sword 

 on his right shoulder, by which his head, together with his left 

 shoulder and leg, was instantly severed from the body. Thus fell 

 Arzan, and was fixed like a statue on the ground. He was buried 

 on the very spot, which to this day is called, after his name, 

 Arzan. 



" Hereupon the heathen army was immediately swelled by re-inforce- 

 ments sent by the priests from the city of Vishap. The people of Par- 

 tukh, and Meghti and Astaghon, also crowded to the spot of battle, 



