180 
A CHAPPOW, OR FORAY. 
drive the Turks further to the south and west, and extend their 
empire to the foot of Ararat, these districts, being little better 
than a border-land, or a high-road through which the several 
Asiatic powers pass in open war, or marauding hostility, it must 
continue the resort of banditti, and a frightful wilderness. 
On leaving our halting-place, a fuller view of the great plain 
of Ararat gradually expanded before us, and the mountain itself 
began to tower in all its majesty to the very canopy of heaven. 
It bore south-east from the line of our caravansary. We now 
took a descending position, due east, over a stoney and difficult 
road; which carried us, for more than ten wersts, through several 
close and rocky defiles, and over as many frozen streams, till 
we reached a small Mahometan village on the side of the Moss- 
chian hills. We halted there for the night; and, for the first 
time, I slept under the roof of a Mussulman. My goodly escort 
had already made themselves acquainted with the substance of 
the honest people; for, in our way to the village, some of 
them spied a flock of sheep, with their shepherd, at a little dis¬ 
tance on the plain, and, starting away, scoured off immediately 
towards them. Not guessing their intentions, I supposed they 
were aware of the approach of some hostile band,and were 
charging to meet them. My surprise, therefore, was rather 
excited, when I saw them plunge into the mass of the flock, the 
shepherd run for his life, and in a few minutes the troop return 
with their spoil; two or three sheep, with their throats cut, 
which were soon skinned, dressed, and eaten. This was nothing 
more, in their opinions, than a mere exercise of their horses ; 
a chappow, (or foray,) as much their right as the air they breathe; 
and as little to be complained against by the owner of the sheep, 
as the gathering of a few turnips, in a neighbour’s field, might 
