Marco Polo in Central Asia: 03. Armenia the Greater.

Armenia greater is a large country, and at the centre of it is Arzinga [1] in which is made the best buckram in the world.  There are several baths of warm spring water, the best and beautiful anywhere to be found.  There are many castles, and cities among which the noblest is Arzinga, the seat of an archbishop, and the metropolis of the whole district.  There are also Argiron, and Darzizi [3]
Arzinga is very large, and during the summer all Tartars of Levent live here, with their flocks and herds live here on account of rich pastures; but in winter they cannot remain because of the severe cold and snow.  Now, in this Armenia is the ark of Noah, on a great mountain.  The circuit of its base cannot be traversed in less than two days, and the ascent is rendered impracticable by the snow on its summit, which never dissolves, but is increased by each successive falls.  On the lower declivities, the melted snows cause abundance of vegetation, and afford rich pastures  which in summer cattle from all surrounding areas resort to.  To the southeast it boarders on a kingdom called Mosul, inhabited by Jacobite and Nestorian Christians of whom we will mention hereafter.  On the north it extends to Georgians, and on that front is a fountain, from where oil rises in abundance that a hundred ships might be at once loaded with it. It is not good for eating, but very fit for fuel, anointing the camels in maladies of the skin, and for other purposes for which people come from great distance, and nothing else is burned in all these countries.  Now let us quit Armenia, and tell of Georgia.
 
End of the sem
Notes:-
1. Arzinga: Most probably Erzincan in Turkey. 
2. Buckram: A plain weave fabric made of cotton, linen, or horse hair.
3. Argiron: most probably Erzurum east of Erzincan. Also in Turkey.
Darzizi: Argishti in Yerevan, Armenia.

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