Chap. IV. of Monfieur Tavernier. 69 



The twenty-firft we travel'd nine hours, and came to lye near feveral Caverns 

 which are very deep \ at the entry whereof there are little Rooms , which are fap- 

 pos'd to be the places where the People of the Country liv'd that fed their Cattel 

 thereabouts. There is alio Rain- Water to be had in ibme of the Concavities of the 

 Rock! Half this days journey you mufl pafs over Rocks , where it is almoft impoi- 

 fible ,' and very dangerous to keep your Horfes back. 



The twenty-iecond, having travel'd eleven hours, we lodg'd near a Cavern, having 

 forded a River that runs at the foot of it. There are two great Grotto's on each 

 fide , where Travellers take up their Quarters , and whither the Natives of the 

 Country bring Provifions both for Horfe and Man. The Toll-gatherers, coming 

 from a Fort about three Leagues diftant from theie Caverns, here exaft two Piafters 

 and a half for every Horfe and Mules Load •, and iearch your Sacks, to fee if there be 

 no Merchantable Goods therein. About half the way of this days journey you meet 

 with a City quite defer ted by the Inhabitants ^ and about an hours march after that, 

 with Tombs of Stone, in the middle whereof ftandsa Crofs, with Armenian Cha- 

 racters. 



The twenty-third we travel'd elev'n hours, and lay at Dadacardin. This appears 

 to have been a great Town, but is all ruin'd : nor is there any thing remaining but 

 a long Stone-Bridge very well built , under which runs a River that is very broad 

 when it overflows. The People of the Country have no other Habitations than the 

 Hollows of Rocks*, yet they bring to the Travellers Hens, Butter, Cheefe, and other 

 Provifions which they fell very cheap. 



The twenty-fourth we travel'd nine hours , and lay at a place call'd Cora, built 

 upon a Hill. The Caravan lay at the Inn - y but the two Capuchins and I lay at a 

 private Chriftian's Houfe , who carry'd us to the Church, where was then the Ker- 

 tabet or Bifhop of Merdin. It was a pitiful poor Church , where they had nothing 

 but two Planks fupported with four Sticks inftead of an Altar. They dare not leave 

 any Furniture in it •, but as foon as the Prieft has faid Service, he mufl have a care 

 to take away every thing , as well the Planks as the Covering of the Altar , which 

 was only a Painted Cloth : For the Turks that travel that way, if it be foul weather, 

 will break open the Door, put their Horfes there, burn the Altar, and take away 

 whatever they find. 



In the Village where we lay , there was a Pond , the fides whereof were fur- 

 rounded with fair Free-ftones , which were fetch'd from the Chriftian Churches, and 

 the Tombs of the Chriftians thereabouts. Among the reft , there was one very 

 large Stone , with an Epitaph upon it in large Latin Letters \ whereby we knew it 

 to be the Tomb-ftonc of a Norman Gentleman , who had been a Captain of Foot. 

 The Bifhop inform'd us , that it is recorded in the Armenian Stories, that the French 

 were a long time in this Country, at what time the Chriftians were Mafters of Syria. 

 This Country is all a large Plain, about twenty Leagues in length •, which might be 

 well manur'd , and make the Inhabitants rich , did not the Tyranny of the Tnrks y 

 and the Incurfions of the Arabs reduce them to the utmoft degree of Poverty. 



The twenty-fifth , after we had travel'd eight hours , we lay at a Village call'd 

 Gufafar, where there was no Inn. There were formerly three great Monafteries, 

 a quarter of a League one from the other. The Turks have ruin'd two, all but the 

 Steeples of the Churches that belong'd to them. The third, which ftands all entire, 

 and is the faireft Pile of Building, ferves for a Mofqitce. They have made Shops 

 round about the Cloyftcrs , in the middle of which is a fair Spring of Water. 



The twenty-feventh we lay ftill at Coufafar, being the place where you muft pay 

 the Cuftoms of Diarbccfuir, which is not above two days journey off, amounting to 

 two Piafters and a fourth part, for every Load of Merchants Goods. 



Merdin is not above two Leagues from Coufafar. This is a little City feated upon 

 a Mountain , with good Walls , and a fair Fountain repteniih'd from the Caftle ; 

 which ftands upon the North-fide, in a place yet higher, that commands tfte City-, 

 where there lives a Bajlia , who has under him two hundred Spah?j , and four hun- 

 dred Janizaries. Merdin is the place where was born the Lady Maani Gioertda t 

 the firft Wife of Pietro de la Vallc , fo well known for his famous Travels. 



As for Coufafar, which is a large Village , it is inhabited for themoft part by Ar- 

 menian Chriftians and Ncftorians. The Armenians perform Divine Service in their 

 own Language \ the Ncftorians in the Chaldaic. The latter fhew'd me two Bible* 



