'A second journey through Persia, Armenia, and Asia Minor, to Constantinople, between the years 1810 and 1816. With a journal of the voyage by the Brazils and Bombay to the Persian Gulf. Together with an account of the proceedings of His Majesty's embassy under Sir Gore Ouseley, Bart. K.L.S. With two maps, and engravings from the designs of the author.' [‎310] (363/516)

310
PASSAGE OF THE ARAXES.
through the bed of a small river adjacent to the camp. Having arrived
there, we saw no water. Still the noise increased, and appeared to
approach close to us : we then became really alaimed, for nothing could
be more awful. Every one expected either ahuiiicaneoi an earthquake,
when the falling ol some very large had stones, neaily of the size of
pigeons' eggs, informed us that the commotion was over our heads; and
on looking up, we could plainly discover two violent currents of air
impelling the clouds different ways, whose concussion produced the
rush which had before appeared inexplicable. The rain drove from
their holes many noxious reptiles that infest this part of the country,
and we ourselves killed a scorpion, a tarantula, and a snake.
On the 6th we departed, and reached our tents, which had been
pitched in a pasture, between Abbasabad and Nakhjuwan. We first
descended gradually towards the Araxes; and then, for some time
owing to the formation of the road, kept on an almost due easterly
bearing. At about three miles from Nasik, we turned to the right of
the road, to see that which appeared like a castle at a distance, but
which we found to be nothing but an abrupt rock. It goes by the
name of the Kiz-caleh in the country, and formerly was a frontier mark
of the tribe of Karagouyonlu. The name of kiz or virgin, intacta, we
find is verygenerally applied to all places that are impregnable by
their natural position.
The passage of the Araxes, was the greatest difficulty that had
threatened the Ambassador and his family on their departure from Per
sia. The impetuosity of the river during the winter had destroyed the
bridge of boats, and nothing had been left at the passage of Abbasabad,
but one boat of no very commodious construction. In order to facilitate
our passage, an English artificer was sent forwards some days previous to
our departure from Tabriz, either to repair the bridge, or to construct
a raft. He had found the former so totally broken up, that he applied
himself to make a boat, which we found nearly complete on our arrival.
It was flat bottomed, forty feet by twelve, with a mast at each end,
to which were fastened ropes. Men were stationed on both sides
of the river to veer and bawl, and when we appeared, we found