412 
APPENDIX. 
miles, the road leads through a narrow glen thickly planted with fruit-trees. 
Then upon entering the high-road its direction is N. N. W., through a fine 
valley for fifteen miles to Curdasht. ' This was once a considerable town, but 
is now ruined and almost deserted. It is situated on the banks of the Araxes, 
entirely enclosed by high rocks, on the top of which a wall has been built, 
and continued on the side of the river : however it would not be possible to 
defend it, as it is overlooked by very high mountains, not more than fifty yards 
distant, on the opposite side of the river. From the eastern extremity of' the 
ruins of Curdasht, Megeri bears N. 22° W., about two miles distant. Abbas 
Mirza built a small castle, capable of containing 200 men, on the rocks about 
Curdasht, to watch the post of Megeri, when it was in the hands of the 
Russians, but it would be of little use, as it might be considerably annoyed 
from the opposite side of the river. , , ^ 
' “ The valley of Megeri is about three miles in length, and three quar¬ 
ters of a mile in breadth. On one side it opens on the Araxes, and a 
considerable stream runs through it, and falls into that river. Megeri 
was taken by surprize in August, 1810, by the Russians. Two Armenian 
villages are situated within the valley, which is cultivated like a garden. 
It is covered with vines, and also produces a considerable quantity of cotton. 
The climate is hot and very unhealthy, which made the Russians abandon it in 
1813, having lost by sickness nearly I7OO men. It formerly contained .500 
families of Armenians, and had 5 churches. The houses are built on the 
slope of the mountain, and appear to rise one over the other. 
“ Ourdabad from Megeri bears W. about sixteen miles. Three roads lead to 
it, two of which are on the right and left banks of the Araxes, but very dan¬ 
gerous, and are only to be passed when the river is low. The path which 
constitutes the road is in some places not more than one foot and a half in 
breadth, and sometimes rocks or branches of trees almost touching the water, 
are made to connect the cliffs together. The Araxes appears to have forced a 
channel through this vast range of mountains, and flows with the greatest rapi¬ 
dity. In one place I found the fall to be 20 feet in 500 yards. The channel 
is much choked with rocks, and not more than SO yards broad, whilst the 
mountains on each side are about 1000 feet in height. 
, “ The other road is by Desmaun, a village consisting of about 150 houses, 
with a good mosque and a small bazar. It was formerly a considerable place. 
“ On leaving Curdasht, the road continues for five miles through the valley 
on the direction of S. S. E. then changes to west for 12 miles. From Curdasht, 
