_ 118 _ The Kurds live inside the castle while the Armenians live below. They have their own watchmen and some cannon. The area has an immense amount of game, there are sheep, cows and wild goats, and mountain pigs, which the Moors give to the Christians. There are great hunters here, who climb into the harsh mountains which surround the city. It was here that King David of Armenia lived. It is said that he was a giant, and he and his wife, called Handut liked living here. She, too, was a giant; she is buried a day’s journey farther on in a castle. The province of this city is large and is called Sason; so-called because of the courage of this king, and because the inhabitants claim that a lance and shield, which are in a small castle nearby, belonged to Samson. We spent two days here and paid four xains per load in dues. We left on 21 December and at midday crossed a high, long bridge leading from east to west, which is called Altun Copri, “golden bridge”, because two large gold rings are placed and nailed on the underside of one of the arches, and the force of the current passes through them. A rich Moor had them placed there, and he had this done so that, if one day he should be ruined, he could restore his fortunes with them.
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