424 
HISTORY OF JULPHA. 
who had lost their capital, or who required an increase to pro¬ 
mote wider speculations, to these the generous and politic 
monarch opened his own treasury, and liberally lent to them, 
on a reasonable interest, such sums as were necessary to the 
prosperity of their business. Thus trusted, supported, and 
guaranteed in the fair enjoyment of what they gained, the 
honour of their transactions kept pace with their affluence ; and 
an Armenian merchant, in the time of Abbas the Great, was 
considered the most efficient agent between Asia and Europe, 
for the mutual transmission of rare goods, and their value in 
gold. In short, he might justly claim the title, that in civilised 
countries is esteemed the most honourable character in society. 
He was, what the merchants of Venice and Genoa were ; what 
the merchants of England are ; in every respect, the gentleman. 
But the passage of a hundred years, over the desolation of Julpha, 
and the forgotten tombs of its faithful defenders, has so obli¬ 
terated all these recollections, that the despised descendants of 
the powerful factors of Shah Abbas, dare not raise their eyes 
with any hope of notice from his august successors ; and they, 
under certain impressions, which the light of knowledge only 
can do away, have no idea of the remaining value of a mine, 
which, though choked up with ruin and rubbish, has only to be 
opened as heretofore by a liberal hand and a confiding spirit, 
to show the streams of gold yet in its veins. But, on the reverse, 
the Armenians of Persia, throughout, are a poor, doubted, and 
contemned race ; and contempt, usually engendering the tra¬ 
versing tricks it supposes, the character of the man has sunk 
with his fortunes, and estimation in the public mind. Besides 
being cheats in the business of life, these once respectable 
people are now sunk to the lowest depths, in the loathsome 
