202 HISTORY OF ARMENIA.
i^asoQ, and the ship had not proceeded far when a violent storm arose^ which cast them away on R desert island. Although the vessel went to pieces on her striking the land, yet the holy Nierses and the crew succeeded in getting safe ashore. They found the island extremely barreot Wording no nourishment fit for man. They were obliged from hunger, at first to eat the roots of the trees which grew there ; but by the pre* vidence of God, in a short time, the sea threw her fishes upon the dry land in such abundance that for eight months, during which they resided there, they never were in want. When the in- telligence of the banishment of Nierses reached Armenia, the kiog being then free from his enemies, broke the covenant he had so solemnly made with his chiefs in the moment of his distress; and sought to revenge on them the mortifications their former opposition had oc* t:asioned him. Some he succeeded in killing by stratagem ; the race of the Camsaracans was almost annihilated by his treacherous conduct. He invited the whole of this tribe to the city of Armavir, whither they repaired without the least suspicion of the fate that awaited them. When they arrived, the ruthless Arsaces caused every individual of them to be butchered^ maOf woman, and child 1 It happened, however, that Que member of the Camsaracans escaped the
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