512 
TERRITORIES OF RUSSIA. 
part of Azerbijan, and an easy road leads direct into Ardibile, 
one of its finest governments, and the paternal seat of the Sefi 
race. From the extremity of the mountains, about twenty miles 
north of the fort of Lankeran, the line of frontier proceeds, 
embracing the plain of Mogan, till it reaches the ford of Eddi 
Boulak on the Aras. The celebrated plain above mentioned, 
excepting on the banks of the river, is totally uninhabitable 
during the summer months, on account of the want of water, 
and the swarms of venemous serpents which infest it at that 
season. It is related that the victorious army of Pompey was 
stopped by them ; and though many have doubted the fact, 
modern travellers support the evidence of history. Mr. Mac¬ 
donald Kinnier testifies, “ that certain parts of the plain are still 
impassable, from dread of these noxious animals. They are 
represented as being of inconsiderable length in comparison 
with their thickness, but their hissing is heard from afar, and 
they seem to rise above the grass, like fish from the sea. They 
are very active, and so voracious, as to assault indifferently 
every thing that approaches them.” During the winter and 
spring months, this immense tract, which is computed at sixty 
farsangs in length, and twenty in breadth, becomes abundant in 
fertility and the richest pasturage, feeding thousands of flocks 
and herds belonging to the Eelauts from the mountains of Azer¬ 
bijan. It being in the power of the Russian government to 
shut out these subjects of Persia, from their customary annual 
fattening on a land now passed to other masters, the recovery 
of this district cannot but be in the heart of the Shah. From 
the peculiar luxuriance of the pastures, it has always been a 
favourite place of encampment with conquering armies, as well as 
with peaceable tribes ; Nadir Shah dictating terms to Russia, on 
