'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.' [‎348] (325/594)

548 ' The Travels of Sir John Char din into Perfia,
thing farther to be known of it, except the Grandeur, which
it once enjoy'd. It was feated upon the deicent of a Moun=
tain, by the fide of a River, that ran dole by it. The Ave»
nues to it,which are naturally very difficult of Accej5,were de
fended by feveral Forts. It contain'd four thoufand Houfes,
as the Armenians report ; but if we judge by its Rutnes, it ne=
ver could contain half the number. At prefent there are no=.
thing but Holes andCavernSjmade in the Mountains,fitter for
Beafts then Men. I do not believe there is in the world a more
barren or hideous Place, then that of Old Julfa, where there is
neither Tree nor Grafs to be feen. True it is, that in the
Neighbourhood there are fome Places more happy and fer
tile ; yet on the other fide it is as true, that never was any
City feated in a Situation more dry and ftony. But the Fi
gure of it fomewhat recompens'd the Situation, refembling a
long Amphitheater. At prefent there are not above thirty
Families in it, which are all A
Abas the Great was the Prince that ruin'd "julfa , and
all that Art had contributed to its Fortification. Which he did
for the fame reafon that he ruin'd and other Places,
of Amenta, to hinder the T Armies from Provifions.
For he being a prudent and Politick Captain, finding his Forces
inferior to thofe of his Enemies; and iludious how to prevent
their return every year into < Perfia ) their winning and pre-
ferving their Conquefts, refolv'd to make a Defart of all the
Country between Er^erum 8c Tauris, upon the line of Erivan
and Nacchivan-, which was the road which the ufually
obferv'd, and where they fortifi'd themfelves, becaufe they
found provifions fufficient for the fupport of their Armies. To
that purpofe therefore he tranfplanted all the Inhabitants and
Cattel, ruin d all the Houfes and Buildings; fird all the
Country, burnt up all the Turf and the Trees, poyfon'd the
very Springs,as the Hiftory relates ; and they who have read
the Story well know, that it had an efleit anfwerable to his
wiflies.
But to return to our lifts ; Jraxes is that famous River that
leparates Ammo. from Media. It takes its Rife from the
Mountain, where they affirm that Ark refted, and per*
haps it may derive its name from that Mountain. From
thence it empties its felf into the Cafpian This River is
very Large and very Rapid. In it's Courfe it is augmented
by feveral leflerftreams that have no name, asalfo by feveral
Torrents. Bridges have been built over it feveral times above