Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/46

according to the Opinion of the Armenian, is the most ancient City of the World; built about three Leagues from the Mountain upon which the Ark of Noah rested: from whence it also takes its Name; for Nak in the Armenian Tongue signifies a Ship, and Sivan, resting or reposing. 'Twas a great City, now wholly ruin'd by the Army of Sultan Amurath. There are the Remains of several rare Mosquees, which the Turks have destroy'd; for the Turks and Persians destroy one anothers Mosquees as fast as they fall into one anothers possession. This City is very ancient, and the Armenians report that it was in this place where Noah went to live, when he went out of the Ark. They say further, that he was Buried here; and that his Wife has a Tomb at Marante upon the Road to Tauris. There runs a little River by Naksivan, the Water whereof is very good; the Spring whereof is not far distant from the Head of the River of Karabagler. The Armenians drove a great Trade in Silk formerly in this Town, which is now very much abated: however, there is a Kan which has the Command there. All the Country between Erivan and Tauris was wholly destroy'd by Sha-Abas King of Persia, and the first of that Name; to the end that the Armies of the Turks, not meeting with any subsistance, might perish of themselves. To this purpose, he sent all the Inhabitants of Zulfa and the Parts adjoyning into Persia, Old and Young, Fathers, Mothers, and Children, with which he planted new Colonies in several parts of his Kingdom. He sent above 27000 Families of Armenians into Guilan, whence the Silks come, and where the harshness of the Climate kill'd abundance of those poor People, that were accustom'd to a milder Air. The most considerable were sent to Ispahan, where the King put them upon the Trade of Silk, and sent them Commodities, for which they paid upon the return of their Markets, which suddenly set the Armenians upon their Feet again. These are they that built the City of Zulfa, which is only separated from Ispahan by the River of Senderou, calling it New Zulfa, to distinguish it from the old City, which was the Habitation of their Ancestors. A third part of the People were dispers'd into other Villages between Ispahan and Sciras. But the old People dying, the young ones generally turn Mahumetans: so that now you can hardly meet with two Christian Armenians in all those fair Plains, which their Fathers were sent to manure.

Among the Ruines of Naksivan appear the Ruines of a great Mosquee, which was one of the most stately Buildings in the World: which some say was built in memory of Noah's Burying-place. As you depart out of the City, near to the River that runs by it, appears a Tower, which is an excellent piece of Architecture: It is compos'd of four Duomo's joyn'd together, which support a kind of Pyramid, that seems to be fram'd of twelve little Towers; but toward the middle it changes its figure, and lessening like a Spire, ends in a Point. The Building is all of Brick, but as well the out-side as the in-side is over-spread with a kind of Varnish of Parget, wrought into Flowers, like Emboss'd Work. 'Tis thought to have been an Edifice set up by Temur-leng, when he had Conquer'd Persia.

Between Naksivan and Zulfa, on each side, as well to the North as to the South, there are ten Covents of Christian Armenians, distant about two or three Leagues one from the other. They acknowledge the Pope, and are govern'd by certain Religious Dominicans of their own Nation. And to keep up their Religion, they send from time to time, to Rome, certain Children born in the Country, to learn the Latin and Italian Tongues, and other necessary Sciences. It is thought there are in this Quarter above six thousand Souls that absolutely follow the Doctrine of the Church of Rome; only that they sing the Office and the Mass in the Armenian Tongue, that all the People may hear and understand them. The Archbishop, being chosen, is sent to Rome to be confirm'd. He resides at a great Town, which is one of the most lovely places in all Asia; the Wine and Fruits that grow there are very delicate, besides the abundance of all other things necessary for Humane Life. Every Covent stands near a great Village: the chiefest where I have been twice, is Abarener, the second Abraghonnex, the third Kerna, the fourth Soletak, the fifth Kouchkachen, the sixth Giaouk, the seventh Chiabonnez, the eighth Araghouche, the ninth Kauzuk, the tenth Kisouk, which lyes upon the Frontiers of Curdistan or Assyria. Here it is, that the Armenians believe St. Bartholomew and St. Matthew to have been Martyr'd, of which they pretend to shew some Relicks at this day. Many Mahometans came thither out of Devotion, especially such as are troubl'dwith