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1 84 ARMENIA AND THE NEAR EAST
Armenian Soviet official, by the mayor of the town, and
other " notables " of the place.
The town wc had arrived at was Delidjan, one of the
largest in Armenia, and the most important centre in this part
of the country. It lies about 1,400 metres above sea-level,
surrounded by green wooded slopes, hills, and higher moun
tains which rise to considerable altitudes, 3,000 metres or more.
The river which runs through the valley falls into the Kura.
The sanatorium wc were visiting was for patients suffering
from tuberculosis. Awaiting us on a large verandah over
looking the town was a table laid with appetizing eatables.
Clearly wc should not be allowed to leave before dark, so wc
made arrangements forthwith for staying the night in the
town.
It came as an abrupt transition after a long and lively dinner,
with many cordial speeches in German and English, to be
shown round the sanatorium by the doctor. It saddened one
to see so many tuberculous patients, especially those in the
last stages ofconsumption ; but they were cheerful and grateful
for being well looked after. Some of them were so weak
that they could hardly lift their heads from the pillow. Oh,
that other-world look on the emaciated faces, with features as
if chiselled in alabaster, and a smile on the pale lips and in
the fine large eyes ! One lovely young girl joked and laughed
with refreshing courage, brightness, and charm—determined
that she would not spoil the few remaining weeks before the
last great journey. A moving hymn to life—and there were
many such. The patients were being nursed by kind-hearted
sisters, and were well off now compared with much that they
had gone through before. Besides the genial superintending
doctor there were two pleasant and intelligent assistant
doctors and three efficient lady doctors.
Håving tåken leave of our hospitable hosts wc drove to
the town in the valley below ; our hotel was quite new and
not yet finished, but wc got clean rooms and good beds there.
It was still raining obstinately, and the ram continued all
night ; but in the morning (Thursday, June 2 sth) it stopped,
the mists clinging to the mountain-sides gradually lifted, and
the sky became blue.
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