326 
ASHTAREK. 
consequence, for it possesses some buildings now entire, and others in 
ruins, which would do honour to the most civilised countries. There 
is a stone bridge over the river, the masonry and architecture of which 
are excellent. A ruined church, also built of excellent materials, and 
of a most finished workmanship, stands conspicuous on a height; and 
at a small distance is a burial-place, some of the tombs of which denote 
proprietors of consideration. This part of the country is studded 
with churches and monasteries, of different sizes and denominations, 
all built of stone, and almost all upon one plan. They are placed upon 
conspicuous heights, and are intended to attract the devotion of pas¬ 
sengers from afar. Most of them are now neglected and in ruin ; and 
to judge by the inscriptions that we saw upon one or two, none are 
of greater antiquity than seven or eight hundred years. These in¬ 
scriptions consist generally of the names of the founders of the churches: 
for in Armenia, as in some other countries, the erection and endow¬ 
ment of a place of worship is an apology for a whole life full of sins. 
On the 17th we commenced our ascent from the hot region of the 
plain into the mountains. We had been apprized long before of the dif¬ 
ference of climate we were to expect, and we were not disappointed. 
Our rise was gradual; yet every step we made up the slope of a 
