CHAP. I . ] IT S COURSE AND TRIBUTARIES. 9
the territory of Erivân from the district at the foot of that
mountain. It receives on the right side, in this part of its
course, the southern Kara su, which comes by a north-easterly
course from the same district, and the Aji-châï, also from
the south; whilst on the opposite, or northern side, it is joined
by the Zanghou, the small Arpah-châï, the northern Kara
su, the Abaran, and, at the northern extremity of Nakh-
chivân,1 by the great Arpah-châï, which forms the western
limits of the province.
Being thus augmented, it flows round the southern border
of Nakhchivân, for nearly a distance of 38 miles, to the
fortress of Abbâs àbâd; and here it receives a third Arpah-
châï, in addition to two other streams, viz. the Nakhchivân-
châï and the Atendja-chai.2
As the country is here moderately level, the course of the
Araxes continues to be tranquil' as far as the village of Djulfa,
where it enters a rocky defile extending about 14 miles ; and,
having forced its way over a succession of cataracts, it finally
enters the level country with a noise which is heard at the
distance of an English mile. The Aras now bends to the
N. E. for a distance of about 35 miles, along the district of
Urd-âbâd, where it is augmented by the Ghilan-châï, the
Oustoukon-chai, the Nenate-châï, the Ailisse-châï, and,
finally, the Urd-âbâd-châï.3
In quitting the latter district the course of the Aras
becomes much more tortuous, and it takes the general direction
of N.E. between the provinces of Karâbâgh and Karâ
Tâgh, till it enters the extensive plain of Moghân. A few
miles short of this tract it is joined, on the southern side, by
a considerable tributary, formed by two branches, viz. the
Karâ su, coming N.N.W. from the mountains of Ghilan,
and the Adhar, which falls into the former branch a few
miles before it enters the Araxes, after a lengthened course
1 Aperçu des Possessions Russes au-delà du Caucase, sous le Rapport statistique,
ethnographique, topographique, et financier ; exécuté et publié avec le
consentement suprême. St. Pétersbourg, 1836, 4 volumes en 8°, avec une
Carte. Tome IV., p. 303.
! Ibid., p. 352. ’ Ibid.