VOYAGE DOWN THE DON. 
39 / 
and were speedily reconducted to our quarters 
in Axay. 
CHAP. 
XIV. 
The next morning we bade farewell to the 
Don Cossacks; and, having placed our carriage 
on board a barge, sailed delightfully down- the 
river (often looking back at the fine view of the 
o 
town of Axay and Tclierkash), to Nakhtshivan, an 
Armenian colony, established about twenty years 
before our arrival : this had attained a very flou- 
rishing state, even in that short period 1 . Its 
Embarka- 
tion for the 
Sea of Azof. 
Armenian 
Colony of 
NaltlUshi- 
van. 
(l) “A verst (by land) from the fort of Rostof, is a large Armenian 
town, called Nakitchivan, after the antient town of that name. We 
spent the evening in looking over it. They affirmed that it contains 
1500 families. It has four churches, and two very large bazars, which 
are very much crowded, and have great appearance of industry. We 
had a letter to one of the principal inhabitants, who had the rank of 
Colonel, and whose son was one of Mr. Andre's pupils (of Rostof), 
and our interpreter. His name was Abraamof. I found that Armenians 
usually expressed their names in this manner, from the Christian names 
of their parents, yet with the termination in of, which is a mark of 
gentility. This man had two sons in the Russian navy ; and possessed, 
the reputation of great wealth. He knew Lazarof, who sold Orlof 
the great diamond ; and described iu strong terms the misery and 
anxiety the Armenian had felt while it remained in his possession. 
His house was well furnished, and had a billiard-table, and many other 
European luxuries : all however sat cross-legged, except the master, 
whose dress also was something after the European mode. He had 
several curious sabres and poignards richly ornamented, which he exhi- 
bited with much pride. He said, himself and the greater part of his 
fellow townsmen had emigrated from the Crimea during the distur- 
bances there ; that they had this situation given them, and a charter, 
by which they had the .same privileges as their countrymen at Astrachan. 
The principal trade of the town is in leather. The women are almost 
all 
