, 1877-12-16

Translated from French JOURNAL by Emma Staney
| for The Tr,6une]
| The advance of the Russian army in Armenia
now brings to view Pashatic in which the Lake
and Fortress OF Van are situated, but OF which
little has recently been known, excepting by a
few explorers or adyenturers. The city which
gives It's name to all the PashaIc has been rare
~ noticed since Moses OF Chorcnc described
It's wonderful excavations, more or less archi-
tcctural in their character, and the curious,
| wedge shaped inscriptions on the rocks and on
the perpendicular partitions OF Nature v thin
almost q mountain of beautifu1Iy-reincd
limestone, detaches itself from the neigh
boring mountains Of Turkey and Persia within
i short distance Of the Lake Of Van,-the
peninsula in that direction. Its two extrcmites
Join the arch of walls joining double nc1osure
of the city, which contains from l5,090 to
$4,000 inhabitants, and which is very difficult Of
iortitIsations. established in the fifteenth
century BY So1ymau the Magnificent, whose
Emprc extended from Atgiers to the Euphrates,
and from the extremity of the Black Sea to tile
farthest limits OF Greece and Epirus, Under
u,s government the Turks attained their
brightest glory. which was lost under his suc-
ce5sors, who seldom appeared at the head OF their
armies. Seen in profile, the Fortress OF Van
strikes the imagination by It's absolute isolation,
and its {rowuiug towers, miuarets, and cascrns.
perisEcd on its projecting rocks. 1t forms 4
strange and fantastic sight, almost within the
sombre shadows Of Ararat, Tie City Of Van
was once the residence Of the Kings Of Assvria
aud Persia Destroyed In the fourth century by
the Sassanide Sapor, It was taken and retaken
by the Byzantines the Mongos, and other na-
tions. Earthquakes, anarchy, revolutions, in
vasons, and epidemfcs, and all that is terrible,
arc not wanting IN its history. The latest mis-
fortunes date from Beder-Han Bcy aud Khan
Maf1moud, which we're terminated BY the Sultan
Abdul Medj;d, in 1917, with army OF $4,000
men Of the regular troops. Since that time,
with the exception Of some disturbances in 1852,
the city and country of Van has enjoyed period
OF tranquility and peace. But the Russian
army is marching in that direction now. and the
downfall OF this stronghold will place all Artne-
MIA in possession Of the Gar. The Turkish gar
rison, which anirnates the highest plateau Of the
citadel, has no occupation excepting during the
hours Of prayer, and no other distraction but
the melancholy contemplation Of 4 vast and
dreary horizon OF snow-cappcd mountains.
Among the monuments OF Van, two mosques are
we'll worthy OF renown,--one ornamental in
the elegant Persian style; and one outside the
walls, surrounded BY magnificent trees, serving
to form Il background to a 1ableau OF rarcd
scenes when carayanscrics pass BY. On the bor- |
dcrs of Lake Van, hidden BY dcnsc groves 81 !
wainut-trccs, the towns OF Ardschir aud Achlat |
are situated; and an island known as Aghta- !
mar, a celebrated monastery, is seen, and also
magnificent residence Of an Armenian Patri-
arch. Hevond this panorama arises tue high,
conical mountain Of Masis-Dagh, crowned with +
snow, anu worthy ardAt gardc Of the great
Ararat and the group of which it beloupS