Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/450

 Saracens had to pass ia returning from oae of tbeir excursions, ia which they bad taken a number of prisoners. Here they attacked and massaqred a great number of them, and released thdir captive countrymen. Before^ bowcTcr, they had time to make good their retreat* they were surrounded by other detachments of the enemy » and after a brave resistance were obliged to surrender. On being taken to Bulafa, fae ordered them to be dreadfully tortured and then martyred) by cutting off their heads. Among these gallant, but unfortunate Arme- nians, were George of the tribe of Akies, and Khosrove of that of the Gab^ens, whose bodies after their death were wticed to possess many miraculons properties. Shortly after this, the h^acJ^^' governor dispatched troops to the provinces of ^ '^^' the Seunies and Sisakans, there to act the same liorrors as they had done in the other parts of Armeiua- He gave them particular dif actions to seize ail the nobles of thesis provinces, and e^ecially Yasak the chief of the Sisakans> and As^t his brother, the sons of Babken, The ^iefs, on hearing this, retired into impregnable forts in the province of Balas. Vasak, however, having delayed rather longer than the rest, was surrounded by the Saracens, but by a little atratagem succeeded in escaping from them. On their discovering his flight, they pursued

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