DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4719#0099
78
BITHYKIA.
islands ending with Prince's Isle; but the chain of eminences
is continued by a similar isolated rocky hill upon the coast,
and three others which carry on the range towards the
north-east, diminishing in size towards the end of the curve,
until the termination is marked by the small brown rocks
opposite the entrance to the Bosphorus from the Sea of
Marmora. The shore is somewhat monotonous, from its
continued undulations, and has no village, or even trees, to
give it interest, the whole line of country being for the
most part barren. Much of the land is capable of better
cultivation, but the greater part would always prove unpro-
fitable.
There is one feature in this country which is very striking,
but more so to the Turks than Europeans,—a new road, or
rather a road; for this is, I believe, the only one in Asia
Minor. This splendid line, extending at present as far as
Ismid, a distance of about sixty miles, was designed by the
Austrians, and bears their character even to its rails, bar-
riers, bridges, and mile-posts, all being striped with diagonal
lines of black and white. I speak of the design of the road
only, for at present it is formed merely of the natural soil of
the country, which is far too rich, even in this part, to make
carriage-roads without the assistance of M'Adam. It will
require a long time to complete such an undertaking; and
indeed it is wonderful how much has already been done, op-
posed as the work has been by the strong stream of preju-
dice. The regulations of the road are quite completed; for
instance, I was charged for two carriages, one for myself, the
other for my luggage ; but on asking for them, was told that
at this season they could not run upon the road, on account
of the mud; the charge was however the same, and I was to
take horses instead. I soon came to a barrier, and was asked
for my post firman, which was to be signed, being in fact
nothing more nor less than a passport, an instrument hitherto
unknown in this country. The road is also divided into
■::..■'
:
■..I-- ,
.
iwl:.:'.''.
rariiWi
•
BITHYKIA.
islands ending with Prince's Isle; but the chain of eminences
is continued by a similar isolated rocky hill upon the coast,
and three others which carry on the range towards the
north-east, diminishing in size towards the end of the curve,
until the termination is marked by the small brown rocks
opposite the entrance to the Bosphorus from the Sea of
Marmora. The shore is somewhat monotonous, from its
continued undulations, and has no village, or even trees, to
give it interest, the whole line of country being for the
most part barren. Much of the land is capable of better
cultivation, but the greater part would always prove unpro-
fitable.
There is one feature in this country which is very striking,
but more so to the Turks than Europeans,—a new road, or
rather a road; for this is, I believe, the only one in Asia
Minor. This splendid line, extending at present as far as
Ismid, a distance of about sixty miles, was designed by the
Austrians, and bears their character even to its rails, bar-
riers, bridges, and mile-posts, all being striped with diagonal
lines of black and white. I speak of the design of the road
only, for at present it is formed merely of the natural soil of
the country, which is far too rich, even in this part, to make
carriage-roads without the assistance of M'Adam. It will
require a long time to complete such an undertaking; and
indeed it is wonderful how much has already been done, op-
posed as the work has been by the strong stream of preju-
dice. The regulations of the road are quite completed; for
instance, I was charged for two carriages, one for myself, the
other for my luggage ; but on asking for them, was told that
at this season they could not run upon the road, on account
of the mud; the charge was however the same, and I was to
take horses instead. I soon came to a barrier, and was asked
for my post firman, which was to be signed, being in fact
nothing more nor less than a passport, an instrument hitherto
unknown in this country. The road is also divided into
■::..■'
:
■..I-- ,
.
iwl:.:'.''.
rariiWi
•