The dear one constantly reminded her of the following words: “There is a great harvest but few workers!” and in this she seemed to think there was an explanation of the fact that on her fell the godly choice. Near Khertviss her strength began to fail. From continuous walking she had become quite lame and was forced to stop and go into winter quarters—enduring innumerable privations. In time her health was so much restored that she started again on her expedition.
Having reached the frontier of Djavakhetta she stopped on the bank of Lake Pkaravno, known also under the designations: Pkdrnav, Paraban, Pkanavar, and Tanaravan; from this lake flows out a river called the Mtkouar of Djavakhetta, from which are to be seen high mountains covered with snow even during the summer months. They are the cause of much cold weather in all the neighboring towns and villages. Fear seized Saint Nina.
“O Lord!” she cried out, trembling, “accept my soul!” and she fell to the ground. For two whole days she could not master her fright nor continue her journey. At last hunger forced her to ask for food of some poor fishermen trading on the lake and of the shepherds who guarded their herds on the banks of the lake.
The latter often used to invoke their gods at night. These were called Armaz and Zaden, and the heathen inhabitants of the lake districts promised them rich sacrifices if they only guarded the herds from any possible evil. Hearing that their prayers were spoken in Armenian, to which Saint Nina was somewhat accustomed as she had served at Niapkhora’s, she dared to ask them whither they had come.
“I am an Akovanian from Elrbienik on the banks of the Lopatsh-Tskan” (this is the left arm of the Alazana, Plinii calls the inhabitants of this region Loubienis), said one of them.
“We are Kakhetines from Sapourtzle and Kindsar near Mouknar,” murmured two others.
“But I am a Touissian from Rabatt,” added a third one.
“Here is one from the great city of Mtzkhet, where there lives a Tsar and where we have temples of our gods; in summer we all drive our herds to the banks of the Pkarnav, thus saving ourselves from the unbearable heat of our countries. The reason that the lake has so many names is that each of us pronounces its name according to his own language. In the autumn we disperse to our many homes to escape the cold of this district.”
“Where is Mtzkhet?” asked Nina with a fainting heart.
“This river unites itself with another one which comes from Kola, changes its name to Mtkonar and flows to Mtzkhet.”