Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - V. To Erivan. The physical features of Armenia
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TO ERIVAN 117
give an account of the object of our mission and why wc had
come. After that I asked whether the Armenian Government
would be willing to receive any more refugees, and whether
it would be possible to accommodate them. The Vice-
President replied that there was not much room left in their
little country now that they had received so many refugees
—some hundred thousands—already, but that the Govern
ment nevertheless wished to do everything in their power to
assist their kinsmen, if these could be brought to Armenia
without cost to the country, and if outside help could be
obtained to make possible the irrigation and cultivation of
new land.
Wc said that in that case wc should very much like to study
on the spot, so far as wc could do it in the short time at our
disposal, any plans that had been prepared for irrigating new
land. The Government and the committee promised that
they would aid us in every way and let us examine all their
plans, maps, and estimates. Wc thereupon agreed to begin
next morning with the important plan for irrigating the
Sardarabad plain, which had been represented to us as
particularly desirable. To a question as to when wc wished
to start, wc answered as soon as possible—bearing in mmd
the idiosyncrasies of Oriental punctuality. They suggested
five o’clock next morning. Very good.
Later in the evening wc were entertained at a big dinner
with sakuska and caviare, Armenian cognac, etc, and many
different courses accompanied by good Armenian wines,
both red and white. They certainly live well in this country !
It was late before wc got back to our hotel.
Outside the corner room that I occupied was a balcony.
As the wall towards the south had been heated up all day by
the sweltering sun, the room was stifling, so I threw the
balcony doors wide open. Outside, the night was cool and
fresh. I could well understand the Oriental custom of going
up on to the roof at sundown and sleeping under the starry
vault. Supper and breakfast are eaten there, too.
It was a clear night, with the immeasurably deep, almost
black, sky of southern lands, and a flickering, flashing maze
of stars of which wc have no idea in the north. Opposite the
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