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ARMENIA AND THE NEAR EAST
114
is that the people seem to have no wish to tidy up the ruins
or use the materials for new houses. They just leave them
lying there, and build new habitations somewhere else.
Presumably it is because the houses, being made of sun-dried
clay and sun-dried clay blocks, are so easily constructed that
it does not pay to use the old materials. But the result is
that these lands are full of ruins.
As we got farther east the amount of cultivated land suddenly
decreased, and it was curious to see large stretches of swampy
ground, often with high sedge, forming a striking contrast
to the arid desert in the west. But this water-logged country
was just as infertile. Strange how too much or too little—
even if it is only a matter of water—will spoil anything.
Obviously what was needed first and foremost in order to
make the soil fertile was drainage, with control both of the
ingress and the egress of the water. Mr. Ersingian told us
that the Government were considering plans for this.
We were now approaching Erivan. Once more we saw
great arid wastes on either side, which could unquestionably
be cultivated if only they could be irrigated. But to the
north-east, on the far side of a valley, the hillside appeared
to be covered with trees—the famous orchards and vineyards
of Erivan,
At one o’clock in the afternoon we reached the station,
which, as usual, was a long way outside the town. We had
a hearty reception from a number of people, representatives
of the Government and others, including Miss Flora Var
danian, a remarkable woman who has shown great devotion
in succouring the refugees in Armenia.
Then we motored to the town. Erivan does not produce
the impression of an important city, with its low, almost
squalid houses ; but it has a picturesque situation at the edge
of the plain by the deep gorge of the river Zanga, and with
steep mountain slopes behind it to the north. Our hotel was
close to the central park. Here each of us had a large airy
room ; and one could get a shower-bath, which was very
refreshing in the intense heat.
At two o’clock sharp we called upon and were welcomed
by the assembled people’s commissars. The programme of
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