Storia do Mogor 38.6

38.6

At the distance of a league or a little less from Isfahan is an inhabited place called Julpha (Zulfah), where great numbers of Armenians live, all merchants, with their churches. These people dwelt long ago in ancient Zulfah, upon the banks of the river Aras, three days' journey before you come to Tabriz. It was there that I saw an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the day [23], beholding the stars as in a dark night. They left that place with the permission of Shah 'Abbas, coming with their families and all their belongings to found this new Zulfah on the farther bank of the river Zindah-rud, and there they dwell in complete liberty, having sufficient facilities in the way of houses, gardens full of fruit, and water with which to irrigate them. This water flows in canals through the middle of the streets, which are adorned on both sides with great trees.