'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎66] (113/905)

66
MOUNTAINS. ARARAT.
[CHAP. IV.
feet 1 From this high ground the principal rivers, valleys,
and mountains of Western Asia diverge, in different directions,
towards the four seas at the extremities of the territory; and
to the shores of these seas it is intended now to trace the
different mountain-chains from one common root. Ararat,
the centre of most of these branches, elevates its snow-clad
summits in a district nearly equidistant from the Black and
Caspian Seas ; the city of Erivan being in the plain on the
northern, whilst Bayazid and its castle occupy spurs from a
range of mountains on the southern side. The plain, of about
10 miles in width, which separates the latter from the base
of that celebrated mountain, is covered with lava; and the
formation of the mass itself indicates the presence of that
volcanic agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. which caused the recent catastrophe. 2
Form and Two vast conical peaks, which rise far above all others in
ofArarat. 0118 this part of the country, constitute the great centre of the
" mountains of Ararat." The lower one is steeper and more
pointed than the higher, from which it is separated by a sloping
plain on the north-western side; the direct distance between
their summits being about seven miles. The ascent of the
great mountain appears to be easier than that of its younger
brother, especially on the western side ; 3 and the summit of it
has, in fact, been gained by the enterprising Dr. Parrott. 4
The difficulties of the journey are, however, considerable, and
these have given rise to the local and expressive name which
is borne by the mountain itself. 5 Owing to the height of the
spectator, and the great elevation of the neighbouring parts
of the chain, the highest summit of Western Asia appears
1 The bridge over the Aras is 5478 feet above the sea.—See Mr. Brant's
Journey: p. 431, Vol. X. Part III. of the Royal Geographical Journal.
2 The great earthquake on the 20th of June, 1840, old style, according to
the official account drawn up by Major Vosboinikof, of the Imperial Russian
Engineers.
8 There are, no doubt, exceptions; but, as far as my observations have
been carried, the western sides of mountains are less abrupt than the eastern.
4 This gentleman gives 16,000 feet (French) for the height of Ararat; that
of the second peak being 12,300, as ascertained by Messrs. Schiemann and
Keyn.—Nouvelles Annales des Voyages, 1830, Tome III., p. 128.
s Aghri Tagh, or Painful Mount.—Rev. G. C. Renouard, Foreign Secretary
of the Geographical Society.