Mount Ararat. 181 



are situated in the longer axis of an elliptic volcanic system, and at 

 the centres of the ellipse. This system occupies a plain, gently in- 

 clined to the north-east, which forms the natural slope between the 

 high plain of Bajazed and that of the Araxes; the former 865 

 yards, the latter 1608 yards in height. The Great Ararat has in 

 its upper part the form of a segment of a cone, slightly curved, and 

 truncated towards the north-east, opening towards the Araxes. 

 Ararat, viewed on the side of the Araxes, is a broad-backed moun- 

 tain of imposing grandeur, owing to its breadth, and the wild features 

 of the crater-shaped cavity it incloses ; while on the other side it 

 has the regular form of a pointed cone. 



The gorge of St James impresses upon Ararat the appearance of 

 a great crater of elevation. The interior structure of the mountain 

 is here exposed to view, shewing trachytic rocks containing pyrites, 

 arranged either in irregular beds or in extensive masses of conglo- 

 merates. There are, however, no modern lavas. These are found 

 along the longitudinal axis of the system, and form two eruptive 

 regions at opposite extremities of the line. That to the north in- 

 cludes a conical mountain of regular form, and the whole region 

 (called Bipgoell) appears to be a product of successive volcanic erup- 

 tions. It terminates in a plain having a height of 3248 metres 

 (3552 yards), which is richly covered with vegetation, excepting a 

 lava region near its centre. Here are two vast crateriform cavities 

 near the place of ejection, looking like deep gulfs of subsidence, and 

 exposing a succession of layers of compact lava beds alternating with 

 beds of scoriae. On the south side, the volcanic action has opened a 

 large gorge in the flanks of the great Ararat, which may be traced 

 to the top, making an elongated niche or gorge, which extends down- 

 ward and enlarges to its base. Below these is a plain like that of Rip- 

 goell, with a similar crateriform pit or gulf. There is a long series 

 of cones of eruption upon the eruptive band which communicates 

 with the aforesaid gorge, several of which are regular cinder or scorise 

 cones, and have ejected streams of lava. Other hills of scoriae have 

 no craters. 



The part of the mountain between the two regions of eruptions is 

 comparatively easy of ascent. M. Abich made his first attempt on 

 the 16th August 1844, but was repulsed by a heavy storm. Again, 

 on the 23d, he encountered another terrific storm, accompanied with 

 electric discharges of great intensity ; and so powerful was the elec- 

 trical movement, that for a long time small phosporescent flames 

 were seen going from the extremities of several metallic instruments, 

 and fluttering from the iron heads of their canes whenever they gave 

 them a vertical position. A. fall of snow continued through the night 

 till ten next morning, and covered the whole cone with sleet to more 

 than a foot in depth, making the route extremely slippery, and that 

 of their ascent thus far nearly impassable. A third attempt was 



