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ARMENIA AND THE NEAR EAST
204
Farther to the south-east on both sides of the river Zanga,
before it runs into the Arax, the land is marshy also. This
marshy country is divided by the Zanga into two parts, called
Eastern and Western Zanga-basar, which form a continuation
of the marshes of Kara-su. The two together contain about
3,300 dessiatins of water-logged and unused land which if
drained and irrigated can be cultivated and made extremely
fertile. In addition there is land which can be better utilized
than is the case at present. Drainage will not present any
great difficulty, as the plain has generally a sufficient slope.
The land has become marsh largely because the peasants
diverted the water across the fields without taking care to
provide an adequate outlet, with the result that the water
stagnated. In addition the river and the existing channels
are stopped up with sedge, which prevents the water from
running out freely ; but it will not be difficult to remedy this
by clearing the sedge away.
The water for irrigation can easily be distributed all over
the plain by canals from the lower Zanga, where the supply
is more than adequate, including as it does the water which
runs through the power-station at Erivan and the waste water
from the irrigated districts higher up.
The land brought under cultivation here can be used for
the same crops as those mentioned above for the Kara-su
region, and reckoned in the same way these crops should
amount to the gross value of 1,684,000 roubles annually, if the
total area of new and improved land in East and West Zanga
basar is put at 4,000 dessiatins.
One great danger closely connected with all this water
logged country is the malaria, which is very prevalent, especi
ally in these parts. The disease is common all over Armenia.
In the low-lying country around Erivan and Echmiadzin
from 90 to 95 per cent. of the population suffer from it, and
in the mountain districts the percentage is from 15 to 20 per
cent. In all it may be estimated that about one-third of the
population suffer from malaria. This insidious disease is a
national misfortune, and represents also a considerable annual
loss, because it greatly reduces the stamina and enterprise of
the people. The Government of Armenia is, of course, fully
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