The Hickman courier., 1877-11-30
WHERE NOAH LANDED.
The 5ga=nfGcenf View which an In
Elishnsan EseheId from tao Top
Of Ararag

The Magnificent view " hfcEl an In
Elishnian BeheId from tao Top
OF Araraf.
The London Spectator, speaking Of the
recent successful ascension of Mornt
Ararat by Mr. Bryce, says:
" Mr.. Bryce has given to the world a
wonderful word-picture of that amazing
and awful spectacle, of that landscape
which is now what it was before man
crest forth on the earth, the mountains
which stand about the same as they
stood when the volcanic fires that piled
them up were long ago extinguished ;;
but he could not tell us what were his
thoughts, his feelings there, what the
awe and yeauling came over him in that
tremendous solitude, where nature sits
enthroDed, serenely calm. and speaks 10
her children only in the storm and earth
quake that level their dwellings IN the
dust.
His vision ranges over the vast ex-
panse within whose bounds are the chain
OF the Caucasus, dimly made out, but
Kazbeck, Elbruz and the mountains Of
Daghestan visible, with the line Of the
Caspian's upon the horizon to the north,
the huge extinct volcano Of Ala Coz,
whose three peaks enclose a snow patched
crater, The dim plain Of Eriyan. with the
silver river running through it; west
ward, the Taurus ranges; and northwest,
the upper valley Of the Araxes, 10 be
! Traced "a far AZ AMI, the ancient capital
Of the Armenian kingdom, the great
Russian fortress of Alexandropol, and
the hill where kars stands-pcaccful
enough when the brave climber looked
out upon this wonderful spectacIe.s
While it was growing upon him, not
| indeed in msgnifcencc, but in coSPre-
feasibility, while the eye was still nm
satisfied with gazing the mist curtain
dropped, enfolded him, and shut him up
alone with the awful mountain top.
The awe that fell upon me lie says,
with the sense Of utter Ioneline--, made
time pass unnoticed, and 1 might have
fingered long in a sort Of dream, had not
the piercing cold that thrilled through
every limb, recalled me to q sense Of the
risks delay might involve Only four
hours of daylight remained, the thick
mist was an added danger, the ice-ax
marks were his only guide, for the COM
pass is useless on a volcanic mountain
like Ararat, with iron in the rocks. The
descent Was made in safety, but by the
time AIr. Bryce came in sight Of the spot
yet far of, where his friend had halted
| the sun had got behind the southwestern
ridge OF the mountain, and his gigantic
| figure had fallen across the great Araxes
plain below, while the red mountains Of
Media, far 20 the southeast, stjll glowed
redder than ever, then turned swiftly to
a splendid purple IN the dying light
" AtsiN O'Clock he reached the b.vouac
and rejoined his friend, who must have
looked with strange feelings into the eyes
which had looked upon such wondrous
sights since sunrise. Three days later
Mr.. Bryce was at the Armenian monas-
try Of Elchmiadzin, near the northern
foot Of Ararat. and was presented to tie
archimapdrite who rules the house.
This Englishman, said the Armenian
gentleman who was acting as interpreter,
says he has ascended TO the top OF
Massis (Ararat)' The venerable man
smiled sweetly, and replied with gentle
deci.iveness. That can not be. No one
has ever been there. It is impossible