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



and the number of the army was thus increased to five thousand four 

 hundred and fifty. 



" Their arrival in the summit of the mountain, created great noise 

 and confusion in the ranks of the two armies. The heathen priests 

 made a simultaneous attack on the Armenian troops, and by a vigor- 

 ous pursuit after them made them descend the declivity of the moun- 

 tain and fly towards the village. The villagers, who lay in ambush, 

 having encountered our troops, stopped their progress, and these 

 being thus hemmed in on both sides, were put to the sword. But 

 the prince of the house of Angl having passed through the ranks of 

 the heathen priests, directed his course towards the mountain, where 

 several men were kept in reserve, and caused great mischief by 

 flinging stones at our horses. Demetr having observed the prince 

 of the house of Angl ascend the mountain, left the rest below and 

 pursued his steps. He was immediately followed by his troops, all 

 mounted on horses. 



" The battle was resumed on the top of the mountain. Our army 

 waited in expectation of further re-inforcements. The whole of our 

 troops had not yet assembled on the spot, of whom four thousand 

 remained in charge of the prisoners in Meghti, and three thousand 

 proceeded to Basain and Hare. The rest were given to pillage and 

 marauding in the field. Ere decisive blows were exchanged, the 

 approach of night put a stop to further operations. Both armies 

 were, therefore, obliged to encamp on the spot and wait the dawn of 

 the morn. On the following day the expected Armenian troops 

 made their appearance ; and a re-inforcement of about five hundred 

 men, from the city of Tirakatar, came to the assistance of the heathen 

 priests. The number of both armies were swelled in this manner. 

 The heathens amounted to six thousand nine hundred and forty-six 

 men, while the Armenians were only five thousand and eighty in all. 

 The trumpets were sounded, and the battle commenced on both sides. 

 In the beginning the Armenians proved victorious over the heathens . 

 But the prince of Hashtens, formerly attached to the party of Demetr, 

 but now commanding the Armenian army, deserted his post, and 

 joined the ranks of the heathen priests with seven hundred men. The 

 Armenians met with a formidable antagonist in this deserter. Our 

 troops were seized with fear and dismay at the desertion of this 

 brave warrior, whose superiority in military operations was generally 

 acknowledged, and whose extraordinary prowess had rendered him 

 an object of respect and admiration with all the Armenian princes. 

 The rebel attacked our army with the greatest fury, and was flushed 

 with the success of his arms. Hereupon the prince of the Seunies 



