now the Aras, a river of Armenia Major, which takes its rise in a mountain called Abor, where the Embrates also hath its origin. From this mountain it runs eastward with a serpentine course, discharging itself into the Caspian sea, after a run of upwards of 500 miles, during which it receives some considerable Some have imagined that it hath its rise in Mount Ararat; but Tournefort affirms us that it comes no nearer that mountain than 12 miles. The Araxes is a very rapid river, and is supposed to be the Gihon mentioned by Moses. Besides this extreme rapidity, it is very apt to overflow after rains; so that they have in vain endeavoured to build bridges over it; though some of them appear, from the few arches remaining, to have been built of the best materials, and in the strongest manner. Such is the vehemence of its current after the thawing of the adjacent snows, or some fierce rains, that neither banks nor dikes can resist it; so that nothing can be more terrible than the noise and violence of its waves at such times: but in winter, when its waters are low, it is fordable in some places on camels.