D., the city was fortified by Antolius, and became a stronghold of the Roman Empire, and her ancient name, Karin, in honor of the Emperor, was changed to Theodosiopolis. During the early decade of the middle ages, she was am object of jealousy and contention between the Moslems and the Greeks.

There are also Armavir, Ardashed, Kemak and other cities, whose past associations are so fragrant and inspiring to an Armenian, while their present state is a littlemore than the shadow of their former grandeur.

ARMENIAN PEOPLE.

"Their national character is a powerful one, and will exercise a marked influence in determining the future of the East."-Prof. Henry F. Tozer, Exeter College, Oxford, Eng.

INCE the tragic fall of Armenia, about the middle of

the fifth century, our people, deprived of their heritage, have been widely scattered in all parts of Asia Minor, Russia and Persia, leaving but a remnant of the Armenians in Armenia. Thus when we speak of Armenians we must not be confined to Armenia alone.

The beginning of our national history, like that of all nations of antiquity, is mingled with much of myth and legend. Our father, according to our tradition, was Togarmah, the son of Gomer, who was the son of Japheth of the Scriptures (Genesis x., 3). Some of our historians allude to our country as Askhanzean, certainly derived from Askenaz, the brother of Togarmah and the son of Gomer.

Our traditional history dates from twenty-three centuries B. C., when Haig, the son of Togarmah, begins his political career as our first ruler, from which the appella

tion Haig, our national name; is derived. He was one of the many who were busily engaged in the Plain of Shinar in the construction of "The Tower of Babel," but the insatiable ambition of Belus, who sought supremacy, constrained Haig to flee from Babylon to the land of Ararat, where he proposed to plant his own dominion in the vicinity of Lake Van. Belus, the sovereign of Assyria, sending messengers to Haig, demanded him to surrender his power and return under his subjection. This haughty demand was promptly refused, and war was the consequence.

Belus, at the head of a mighty army, marched to the land of Ararat, and Haig met him with his patriarchal force of numerous sons, grand-sons and servants. It was a crisis which decided the future of his posterity. There the first Armenian hero displayed his valor and our legendary songs still sing his triumphant praise. He slew Belus with his dart and buried him on the spot where he fell, scattering his army in great confusion. Haig lived the long life of four hundred years, with a flourishing dominion. The first dynasty bearing his name had fifty-nine kings, with the capital at Armavir, to the north of Araxes. Here grew sacred forests, the rustle of whose leaves was held to be the voice of gods whispering to men of welfare and peace.

Haig's son, Armenag, was the next sovereign. Some suppose that Armenia derived her name from him. His reign is followed by a dim period in the annals of our country, which mention a succession of Armenian princes, until Aram, the seventh dynasty of Haig, comes to light

about two thousand years B. C. From Aram, according to the best authorities, originated our present name, Armenia, by which we are known among foreigners. We do not use this name in our own tongue.

Aram was a king of unusual attainments, and a man of superior tact. He ruled the people with the power of a rightous judge and a promp executive. Contemporary with the Biblical patriarchs, he diffused his reputation far and wide throughout the neighboring provinces and countries, extending the boundaries of his kingdom by conquering large portions of Asia Minor and driving out the Median and Babylonian invaders. Among the few cities that he builded, Mazaca or the modern Cæsarea in Cappadocia, is the principal monument. His activities were cut short by death during the war against the queen of Assyria, after which Armenia became a tributary province to that country. The Haikian dynasty did not cease to rule, but it was reduced to almost insignificance beneath the mighty power of the Assyrian empire.

In ancient accounts Tiglath-Pileser speaks of "the mountains of Aruma," while the inscriptions of Shalmaneser mentions "The royal city of Arrame of the land. of Unardhians."

This "Aruma" of the Tiglath-Pilesar and "Arrame" of Shalmaneser coincide with the name "Aram" of the Armenian historians. Different spellings of the same name account for its varied transformations into the foreign languages, while they both refer to the "Aram" of the

natives, the first referring to the country and the latter to the sovereign. The derivation, Togarmah, is believed by some scholars to be from Toka, the Sanskrit for "race," and Armah of the classical Armenian, thus Aram, Arama, Arrame and Armah, though differently spelled by different people, are all derived from Aram, the name of the ruler and his province. Anciently the country was known as Aramenia, but now the name is contracted into Armenia.

The cuneiform inscriptions of Armenia are of great historical importance because of the light which they throw on the period between 856 and 640 B. C., but with this light is the shadow of religious and social Assyrianism throughout the southern and greater part of the realm. The Haikian monotheistic dynasty, though not extinguished, was almost eclipsed by the Armeno-Assyrian dynasty, founded by Lutipris after the defeat of Arame, king of the Araratians. This new and powerful line of kings continued from father to son in the following order: Lutipris, Sarduris I., Ispuinis, Menuas, Argistis, Sarduris II.

The Ursa and Argistis II., whose paternity seems undetermined, were evidently of the same family. Argistis II. was succeeded in direct line by his son Erimenas, and he by Rusas. Then last came Sarduris III., whose parentage is also uncertain. This era may appropriately be called the "Dark Ages of Armenia."

Its meager history, like that of Assyria, is engraven in cuneiform on monuments distributed throughout the region.