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

TO ASIA MINOR.

135

The object of this day's journey was, if possible, to find the
source of the southern branch of the Tcharshembe Su. Almost
immediately after leaving Arvan the ascent of Kabukla Belen Dagh
begins; it is exceedingly steep, and the ascent requires about two
hours. The summit once reached, we have before us what is virtually
a rough rolling table-land, bounded on the west by Gok Dagh. Gok
Dagh is not so high as Geyik Dagh, which is still heavily covered
with snow, while Gok Dagh has only a few patches of snow. Gok
I )agh is not a single peak, but a long mountain range, which runs
north-northwest and south-southeast, until it comes to an end imme-
diately south of Bei Sheher G61. Tinas Dagh is not parallel to the
Gok Dagh range, but in hi short course runs northwest and southeast.
Leaving the summit of Kabukla Belen Dagh, we follow down the
course of a Tchai, heading about south. One hour's travel brings us
to a Katabothra (Turkish, Di'idcn), through which the water seeks
an underground exit. Another hour brings us down into a broad
valley lying immediately at the foot of Gok Dagh. A large creek,
called Siirle Tchai, comes from the south, and after it is joined by
the Tchai down which we came, the united stream disappears in a
Dtlden under Gok Dagh. Thus it will be seen that the water from
this whole region has only an underground outlet, and hence the
source of the Tcharshembe Su must be sought elsewhere. This
valley, which is uninhabitable during the winter, affords summer
pasture for the flocks of nearly all the villages around Siristat. A
half-hour's travel up the Siirle Tchai, about south, brings us to two
small lakes, Siiliik G61 (= Leech Lake) and Dibsiz G61 (= Bottom-
less Lake), situated at the foot of Gok Dagh. Both lakes are about
fifty yards in diameter. Siiliik G61 is shallow and full of reeds; its
water has no outlet. Dibsiz G61 is evidently very deep, as its name
implies. Only a little water flows from it ; but immediately south of
Dibsiz Gol is a large spring, which, together with the water from
Dibsiz Gol, forms the western branch of the Siirle Tchai. From the
herdsmen in this valley I learned that about one and a half hours
southeast of Dibsiz Gol there is still another lake called Sarot Gol.
Sarot Gol is said to be dry at this season, but in its immediate
neighborhood the Tcharshembe Su gushes from the foot of Gok
Dagh. I believe this to be correct information, as it was afterwards
confirmed by the villagers of Sorkun. from which village Sarot Gol
is said to be two and a half hours distant.