'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.' [‎345] (322/594)

through the Black-Sea, and o/Colchis. 545
The 11* We travell'd four Leagues upon the fame Road,
and through a very fair Country; but not fo level,nor fmooth,
as being ftony, and full of little Hills. We alfo ferry'd over
a River call'd tiarpafony , that waters all the Neighbouring
Lands. It feparates the Government of that part of
of which EriVan is the Capital, from that other part of which
Nacchivan is the Metropolis.
The n.we arriv'd at Nacchhan, after We had travell'd
five Leagues over Plaines very level and Fertile.
Nftcch 'mn is a great City, or rather a vail heap of Ruins,
which are repair'd and repeopl'd by degrees. The heart of
the City is at prefent rebuilt and inhabited ; having very large
Bazars, which area fort of long Galleries, or Streets that are
cover'd, full of Shops on both fides; where they fell all Sorts
of Merchandizes and Provifions. There are in it five Inns or
Carayanferays, Baths, Market Places, large Publick Houfes,
where they fell Tobacco and Coffee ; and two Thoufand
Houfes or thereabouts. The ferfian Hiftories affure us, that
formerly it contain'd above Forty Thoufand. They alfo
tell us, that before the Arabians conquer'd this Country,there
were in it five Cities which had been built by 'Behrori'-Tcbouhin
King ofPerfia. Without the City are to be feen the Ruins
of a great Caftle, and feveral Forts which caus'd to be
deftroy'd, toward the end of the laft Age, not finding him»
felt firong enough to keep 'em : All which he caus'd to be
ruin'd after he had taken NacchiaVan from the Turks 5 and
after he had ruin'd and difpeopl d the City. Which he did to
prevent the Twks from Fortifying themfelves in that Place,
and furnidling themfelves with Provifions. Moft certain
ly the City is an Objeft of Pity, confidering in what a Condi
tion it now lies. .
The Hiftories of Verfta would have us believe, that it was
one of the Greateft and Faireft Cities of all as has
been already Hud. But that Hiftory, now kept in the Mona-
ftery of the Three Churches, and which is chiefly fpokn of, da-
clares that this City was the ancient Jrdajhhad, call d Art ax ate,
or Jruxafate by the Greek Hiftorians. Other Armenian Au-
thors make Nacchivan to be much more Ancient and aflerc
that Nod/? began to build it, and made it his Abode after the
Deluge. And they make the Etymology of the Name to
agree with the Antiquity of the Original: Affirming, that m
the old Armenian Language Nacchinn fignifiesthe fc/f Habi
tation. Vtolomy makes mention of a City in thefe Parts,