'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎13] (44/1024)

Chap. III. of Monlieur Tavernier.
wherein there are now as rich Ornaments as in any Church of Chriftcndom. The
Choir of the Church was hung round with a Venetian TifTue of Gold. The
Pavement alfo of the Choir and the Body of the Church, together with the Steps
to the Altar, were fpread with rich Tapeftry. For they all put off their Shooes
before they go into the Church *, nor do the Armenians kneel as in Europe, but ftand
all the while upright. When they hear Mafs, they fit after the Mode of the
Country, but when the Leffons are reading they ftand up. Ail the Service-time
their Heads are cover’d, unlefs at the Elevation of the Hoft, for then they take off
their Bonnets, and kifs the Earth three times. There was upon the Altar a Crofs,
with fix Candlefticks of Gold^ and upon the Steps to the Altar four Candlefticks
of Silver five foot high. After they had fung feveral Hymns, the Patriarch feated
himfelf in a Chair cover’d with Silk Tapeftry, four Archbifhops fitting with their
Backs to a Pillar at his right hand. The Service was folemnly perform’d by an
Archbifhop, with two Bifhops on each fide of him. After the Archbilhop had
made certain Prayers, he took the Book wherein he had read the Gofpel and
gave it the Patriarch, the Archbifhops, Bifhops, and all the People to Kifs. On
the one fide of the Cover of that Book there are two Relicks enchas’d, which are
cover’d with Cry ft al, which was the fide of the Book that was given to beKifs’d.
The Ceremony being ended, many went to Kifs the Patriarch’s Hand, and fo
retir’d.
Ten Leagues from Erivan, toward the North, appears a great Lake, wherein
there is an Ifland, upon which is built a very fair Covent. The Monks that live there,
live fo auftere aLife, that they never eatFifh or Fldh above four times a Year :
neither do they fpeak one to another, but upon thofe four Days. The reft of the
Year .they feed only upon Herbs, which they gather out of the Garden: for fay
Aey, it is not Falling, to eat either Butter or Oy I. The Bread which they eat is
brought from the neighbouring Villages: and the Ifland is replenifh’d with all forts
of excellent Fruits.
On the one fide of the Lake nearer to Erivan is a large Plain, wherein there are
fix Monafteries. One of which is entirely hewn out of the Rock, with the Pillars
that fuftain it, being feated in a very hard Rock. The Armenians call that Church
Kickart in their Language, and the Turks in theirs Guicurghieche, that is. See and
away. In this Church, according to the Traditions of the is kept the
Lance wherewith the Side of Chrift was pierc’d ; the Figure whereof I caus’d to be
drawn upon the Place. The Armenians have this Lance in great Veneration, faying*
that it was brought thither by St. Matthew.
Five Leagues from Erivan, towards theSouth-Eaft, begins the Mountain Ararat ;
which will be always famous for being the refting-place of NoaWs Ark. Half
aLeauguefrom that Mountain, where the Plain begins to grow level, ftands a
Church upon a little Hillock, clofe by which are feveral Pits like Wells. They
report that it was into one of thefe Wells that Cerda, an Armenian King, caus’a
St. Gregory to be thrown, becaufe he would not Worfttip his falfe Gods. Between
this Church and£m^« are to be feen theRuines.of the Ancient the
Seat of the Kings of Armenia, which demonftrate that it has been a great City:
befides, there appear the Ruines of a fair Palace.
Erivan lies in 64Degrees, 20 Minutes of Longitude*, 41 Degrees, 15 ML
mites of Latitude *, in a moft plentiful Country of all things,neceffary for Humane
Life, but efpecially abounding in good Wine. It is one of the beft Provinces of
all Perfia, and yfelds the King a very large Revenue, as well by reafon of the
goodnefs of the Soil, as for being the great Thoroughfare of the Caravans. The
yearly Revenue of the Governour only, otherwife call’d the Kan of Erivan*
amounts to above ,20000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. , which make 840000 Livres. This City ly
ing upon the Frontiers of both Empires, has been taken and retaken by ihcTarkt
and Perfians, feveral times. By which means the old City being ruin’d, they have
built a new one^ 800 Paces on this fide, upon a Rock, at the foot whereof, upon the
Weft-fide runs a rapid Stream : it is call’d by the Name of Sangui*Ci]a, and in many
places it is deep and full of Rocks. You crofs it, over a fair Bridge of three Arches,
in which are built little Chambers, where the Kan retires in the heat of the day. It
is full of Fifti, efpecially Trouts, which neverthelefs are dear enough. This River
comes from a Lake called Gigaguni-, about 25 Leagues toward the
North ?