Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/47

2 offspring, set out in a north-westerly direction, in search of a more commodious place of abode. In the course of a few days journey he arrived at the base of a lofty mountain, bounded by an extensive plain, and delightfully watered by a river, which passed through the middle of it. He rested two months on the banks of this river, and gave the neighbouring mountain the name of Shem, after himself. At the expiration of this period he resumed his journey, turning toward the south-east, leaving Taron, one of his younger sons, to settle in the country about the mountain to which he had given his name. The latter, on taking possession of his allotted inheritance, gave the land the name of Taron. It was subsequently called Taruberan. He then distributed to his several children portions of territory, all of which became, in course of time, populous provinces.

The families of Ham and Japheth, which had still remained connected together near Mount Ararat, in process of time became so numerous, that they entirely peopled the country afterwards known by the name of Armenia Major; the descendants of the former inhabiting the western parts, those of the latter retaining the original settlements about the mountain. It has been conjectured that the language in common use with these people, even at this early period,