INSCRIPTION. 
S4'2 
monks. The curiosities of this church are certain excavated chambers, 
which are specimens of the pains and labour used for the completion of 
this building. These chambers are three in number, lighted by a per¬ 
foration of the rock from above, and carved into altars, recesses, and 
confessionals, all of a taste so gross and barbarous, as only to be in¬ 
vented or approved by a modern Armenian. The mountains and rocks 
around and in the immediate vicinity of the church are carved and ex¬ 
cavated in many places, either by the pastimes or the penitential labours 
of the monks; but all are in the same rude and barbarous taste. 
The walls of the church, both within and without, are carved with 
inscriptions in Armenian, chiefly in memorial of the charitable dona¬ 
tions, voluntary repairs, and ornaments of the church made by pious 
individuals. A long inscription over the principal altar expresses 
words nearly to the following purpose : “ Let it be made manifest, that 
“ on account of our great and manifold sins, we were visited by Timour 
“ Leng (Tamerlane) and his destructive armies, who after having killed 
“ and taken captive many unfortunate Christians, came to this church, 
“ destroyed it, and carried away the great treasure that had been accu- 
“ mulated in it from the zeal of devout and charitable persons.” 
This place has now been abandoned by the Armenians about forty or 
fifty years. It is still in tolerable repair, on account of the great soli¬ 
dity of its structure; and with very little expense might be made per¬ 
fect. The Armenians, at a particular season of the year, frequent it as 
a pilgrimage ; and I observed over the altar, hung upon pegs, little bows 
made of twigs and cord, which I presume were votive offerings, but 
of the meaning of which I have not been able to gain any inform¬ 
ation. 
On returning from Keghort we visited the Armenian church of Virab, 
distant about nine miles from our camp. The road led through several 
flourishing villages, and across a plain highly cultivated in corn. Virab, a 
quarter of a mile from the Araxes, is situated on the south side of some 
hills, in the neighbourhood of which is a tract of fine turf, here and 
there swampy, and at this season of the year swarming with wild geese. 
