The sun., 1901-08-11

oy nature 70 tho moro northoaAt0rty OF the
two extensive sections into which she has
parusllsd Armenian son. The Russian
frootisr b drawn from the coast OF the
Black 6ea along the water-partins Of the
tributaries to the western bank Of tho Lower
Chorokh, through the psripheral region,
and west Of the town Of Olti. TO the Turkish
Armenian border ct the Chakhar Dagt.
Thence IL b taken across the Arsxes 10 the
spine Of the Ashri or Shatin Dagh. just
northwest Of tho dome Of Kuseh Dagh. IL
follows the spine Of the range to the neigh
borhood Of Great Ararat, whose summit IL
embraces within tho dominions Of the Gear.
From tho crest OF the Little Ararat. whose
southeastern slopes are left to Persia. the
Russian frontier reaches across the plain to
che right bank Of the Araxes, q little below
the monastery Of Khor Wrap. The Araxes
forms the boundary between the Russian
and Persian empires from this point to near
it's confluence with the Kur. All Of these
rivers and mountains will be found
depicted on the large-scale map which
accompanies the authors first volume. The
area OF the country comprised within Rus
sian Armenia Is about 1000 square miles.
Tho solid block Of territory over which
Russia now rules on the table land OF Ar
menia ID neither q new acquisition nor the
fruit Of . single conquest. At the beginning
Of the last century she gained a foothold
upon the plateau through the voluntary
accession OF the Georgian kingdom. and its
Transformation into Russian province in
iS07. This event, the outcome Of the folly
Of the Mussulman powers, that had driven
tho Christians to despair, was followed
BY the rapid expansion Of the northern
empire In these countries, a. the result Of
successful wars. Karabagh was taken
from Persia In 1918, and tho important
khanate OF Ertvan In is2s; from Turkey,
the district Of Akhaltsykh In 1870. and the
fortress and province Of Kars In 1873. Ap-
pearing - . deliverer Of the Christian
peoples, and prohting by their aid, Russia
hAs succeeded In advancing her border
beyond the Araxes, and to the threshold
of Erssrum. and in establishing herself
behind well-founded frontier, which COM
prises tho venerated mountain Of Armenia,
as well as the seat Of the supreme spiritual
government to which the Armenians bow.
The provinces OF Russian Armenia consti-
tute part Of the great administrative sys-
tenn Of the Caucasus, which Is presided over
by q single Governor General. Formerly,
It was usual TO appoint to this important
post q Grand Duke, who exercised, not
without advantage to the country, a very
large measure OF personal initiative. At
the present day the Office Is occupied by
. nobleman Of high rank, but his admins
tration has become much moro intimately
connected with tho bureaucratic machine
which is operated from st. Petersburg.
He remains. however, the principal civil
and military authority In the Caucasus,
which consists Of no less than twelve gov
ernments, and u divided into North Cau-
casus and Trans-Caucasia. Tho seven
governments Of TiAis, Erivan. Kars, Kutais, !,
Elizabetpol, Baku and Zakatal compose
Trans-Caucasia. Their aggregate popula-
ton In 1897 fell little short Of Ave millions.
to which total the Armenians contributed
about q hfth. The other inhabitants are
furnished by branches OF the Georgian
family and by settlers Of Tartar race.
These elements Of tho population for the
most part occupy the country Immediately
on the north Of the Armenian tablelands.
Tho Caucasus itself. the northern boundary
of Trans-Cauoasia, contains within It's
countless recesses a long catalogue Of
nations whose names It IA difficult to pro-
nounce and whose languages are mys-
terious. The Importance Of the Armenian
element must be measured, not so much
by its numerical strength as by its soil
darity, compared with tho divisions among
the peoples beside whom they live The
ArmeniAns are little separated by religious
differences; the Roman Catholics are Q
more handful amid the compact ranks Of
the Gregorians, and the Gregorian Church
but the stronghold Of national hopes. The
Tartars. who slightly exceed the Armenians
In number. are split by the bitter religious
sntipathies OF Sunni and Shah. while the
Qeorgians, who muster over a million
souls, are In q period Of transition from
their old feudAl system to new and more
settled social order The union, more
over, Of their Church with the Orthodox
Church Of Russia has deprived the Georg.
hns Of natural rallying point for the oom-
munity OF sentiment which is based on a
consciousness OF race pride. Should the
Russians become possessed OF the Armenian
provinces OF the Turkish Empire. the mos,
numerous as well as the most solid Of the
elements Of population in Trans Caucssiu
will be furnished by the Armenian race.
The Armenians being commercial and
industr rial. as well as agricultural. people
have spread themselves outside the natura
limits OF their country, attracted to the
growing centres OF industry upon It's con-
fnes. They contribute q valuable anc
expanding element TO the urban popula
ton. II Is only. however, when one goins
southward has crossed the mountains
which separate their highlands from this
rest OF Trans -Caucasia, that one becomes
conscious OF treading upon Armenian soil
Throughout Its extension from Akhalka
laki and Alexandropol on the northeast tC
Egin and Kharput on the southwest, that
elevated stage OF the Asiatic tableland
which may be still called Armenia, bear
the imprint OF the individuality Of the Armc
ni,n peoples to u greater degree than that o
any other race. Throughout this higi
plateau there Is scarcely q remote vale,
which does not attract a band Of pilgrims
to worship in the monasteries which dat
from the times OF the Kings OF Armenia
and keep alive the story Of IT'D past. Th'