Papers of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (3.1884-1885)

TO ASIA MINOR.

13

From this point we go up the left bank of the Gok Su for nearly two
hours, until a point is reached where the river has to force its way
through a deep, narrow canon, called Tcholla Kapusu. This canon
compels the ascent of the spur of the mountain, which ends at
Tcholla Kapusu. We missed the direct road to Grauvga, and after
discovering our mistake, we were compelled to go through the path-
less woods to the river. We then ascended the river until the bridge
— the Grauvga crossing — was reached.

The mountain given by Fischer as Marash Dagh is, more properly
speaking, Magharas Dagh, i.e., Cave Mountain. A more important
matter is, that Fischer puts it on the wrong side of the Gok Su. It
is on the right bank of the Gok Su, and is the southernmost outlier
of the Great Ala Dagh range, which, under a variety of names,
extends from here to Kaliin Aghyl Dagh. The mountain on the left
bank of the Gok Su is named Zartavul Yakasii; it is a lofty range,
but without any peaks rising prominently above the general backbone
of the mountain. Top Gedik is not a peak, as on Fischer's map,
but a real Gedik, that is, a broad saddle, or pass. Top Gedik lies
immediately north of Magharas Dagh. The names of the other peaks
in the same range will be given hereafter.

Grauvga is situated on a hill at the foot of the mountain, 31 m.
from the bridge ; the valley is wide at this point.

May 26. Grauvga to Maliya Budjaghti, 4 h. 37 m. Leaving
Grauvga, we recross the Gok Su and begin the ascent of Zartavul
Yakasii. For the first two hours the path lay through a wooded
country, crossing some outlying ridges of Zartavul Yakasii, and passing
along the backbone of others. At Kertmen the real foot of Zartavul
Yakasii is reached. Henceforward the ascent is very steep. Before
reaching Fenk Budjaghu, we traverse an elevated plateau. Ahead
of us the mountain rises up perpendicularly, and forms a great natural
theatre. The Turkish name for this phenomenon is Budjak, and
the village situated in this theatre is called Fenk Budjaghu. Crossing
the southern end of this Budjak,1 in about one hour we reach Maliya
Budjaghu, which is similar to that of Fenk, but much larger. I began
to ask for the Mahileh of Fischer's map at Mara and elsewhere after-

1 Strictly speaking, Budjak means " a distant, out-of-the-way corner." Bessa-
rabia, while a part of the Ottoman Empire, was called Budjak.