'The travels of Sir John Chardin into Persia and the East Indies, through the Black Sea, and the country of Colchis. Containing the author's voyage from Paris to Ispahan. To which is added, the coronation of the present King of Persia, Solyman the III.' [‎253] (296/594)

through the Black-Sea, and t Colchis. 253
call'd, by reafon of the choice that GOD made of it to bear,
the happy Ark that inclos'd all Mankind. Thefe are forc'd
Etymologies as much as any can be, and fuch as we may well
compare to the meer Tinkling of Bells. This Mountain is
call'd by two other Names in the Books : that is to
fay, Cou-nough, or the Mountain of and
or the Happy Hillock. But the Holy Scripture gives it no
particular Name, only it fays, That the refted upon
Mountain o/" Ararat, which is Armenia. Thefe are thofe Moun
tains fo famous in the Greeks and Latin Authors, which they
slFert to be part of Mount Taurus,and call by the Names of
Gordian, Cordean, Cordueman, Card , , and
every Author altering the word according to the Pronunciati
on of his own Language.
The Armenians have a Tradition, That the Ark is ftill upon
the Point, or higheft: Top of this Mount Mack. They add
moreover, That never any Body could afcend to the Place
where it refted ; and this they firmly believe upon the Faith
of a Miracle, which they fay, happen'd to a certain Monk of
Echs-Mia%in, whofe Name was afterwards Bifliop of
Nifibis. They report, That this Monk, poflHs'd with the
common Opinion that this was the Mountain where the Ark
refted after the Deluge, refolv'd to afcend to the Top, or die
in the Attempt; that he got up half way, but could never go
any farther ; for that after he had clamber'd all the Day long,
he was in his Sleep miraculoufly carry'd back to the place from
whence he fet forward in the Morning. This continu'd a long
time ; but that at length GOD giving Ear to the Monk's
Prayers, was willing to fatisfie his Defires in fome meafure: to
which purpofe he fent an Angel to him with a piece of the
Ark, with Orders to bid him not toyl himfelf any more in
vain, for that he had debarr'd from Mortals accefs to the Top
of that Mountain. And this is the Tale which they tell; up
on which I (hall obferve two things. Firft, That it has no
Coherence with the Relations of Ancient Authors, as Jofephm,
Berofus, or Nicholas of Damafcm, who allure us that the Re
mainders of the Ark were to be feen, and that the People took
the Pitch with which it was befmear'd as an Antidote againft
feveral Diftempers. The fecond, 1 hat whereas it is tak n
for a Miracle, That no Body can get up to the Top, I (hould
rather take it for a greater Miracle, that any Mm (hould climb
up fo high. For the Mountain is altogether uninhabited, and
from the Half-way to the Top of all, perpetually cover'd with
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