176 
MONASTERY OF KOTCHIVAN. 
square blocks of stone, which were covered with Armenian 
inscriptions. These pedestals, and the materials with which 
the ancient capital was built, have all been dug from immense 
quarries in the vicinity of Kotchivan. They consist of a beau¬ 
tiful kind of rock, which bears the three colours described before 
as forming the walls and ornamental architecture of Anni. It 
is very close-grained, and susceptible of being cut into the most 
delicate combinations without difficulty or splintering, till it is 
exposed to the air ; and then, while it becomes too hard for 
such work, it acquires a solidity and a surface which resists 
every destroying effect from the changes of the weather. 
.Before we reached the convent, night had quite overtaken us ; 
but, dark as it was, I yet discerned much of the interesting 
scenery of the road ; and amongst the rest, a high octagon 
watch-tower, resembling the two I had seen in Anni. It stood 
on a height, close to the pathway of the defile through which we 
were to pass to the monastery. When arrived, its venerable 
gates opened on no rusted hinge. I found my baggage-horses, 
with their attendants, had been comfortably housed some hours; 
and the holy brotherhood welcomed the master, and his train 
of no very promising aspects, with the most cordial hospitality. 
Besides these attentions from my Christian brethren, the 
Turkish chief of the village honoured me with a visit. ♦ 
As soon as morning dawned through the little window of my 
cell, I was a-stir again ; and, going out amongst my people, with 
difficulty got those of my escort together. That achieved, I 
bade farewell to my pious hosts, with sentiments of gratitude, 
not to them only, for the services I had received, but to the 
spirit of a religion which makes those establishments, whenever 
needful, in all lands, the refuge of the traveller. We find these 
