'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.' [‎320] (373/516)

320
ERIVAN.
this apartment that the Serdar amuses himself by trying his skill
with a gun, and shooting with ball the asses of the peasants who
happen to be going along the road on the other side of the river.
The palace occupies nearly one half of the side of the castle
towards the river, and the women's apartments, the windows of
which are screened with lattice work, look immediately upon the preci
pice. During the war with Russia, an occurrence took place, which
would form a very good foundation for a romance. In one of the pre
datory excursions into Georgia, the Serdar made prisoner and placed
in his harem, a young Georgian maid, who had been betrothed, and was
on the point of marriage to]a fine youth ; the youth followed his mistress
to Erivan, and having made known his arrival to her, they managed to
escape for a short distance, but their steps were traced, and they were
brought back. The lover was ordered to leave Erivan, and as he was
going over the bridge of the Zengui, which flows at the bottom of the
precipice, his mistress spied him, and threw herself down from the im
mense height, determining either to join him, or to die in the attempt.
Her fall was broken by the intervention of two willows, and she was
taken up much bruised, but not very dangerously hurt. It must be
told to the honour of the Serdar, that he did not carry his tyranny fur
ther, but restored the couple to each other, gave them their liberty, and
protection to return to their homes.
We passed the day of our detention at Erivan, in company of the
Serdar, who gave the Ambassador an entertainment in the large open
hall of his palace. His conversation was very agreeable, and he was
very communicative upon all subjects. The territory under his com
mand is about 140 miles in length, and 80 in breadth. According to
a ^ sum or estimation made by Hassan Khan, the Serdar's brother, who
was sent for the purpose of taking an account of the inhabitants of each
village : the population then consisted of 18,700 males from the years
of 15 to 50, which multiplied by four, for women, children, and old men,
will give a total of 74,800 souls. In these are included all the Eelaut
tribes, except the Gourds, who being a distinct and casual class of popu-