If*1***
■; " •' -• -\
wt. The mat.
APHEODISIAS.
249
■-•■'::::-;
• :.,:«,: r_"
for two bocR*
i ■
f rock
jj ibeweaternW
beipmg»
. Hi *■■"''
curious composition; on the surface the stones are so nume-
rous that the plough is not used; the beautiful stone-pine
and tufts of underwood are almost the only produce, and
beneath the surface the hills are formed of broken and
generally washed or rolled stones, held slightly together by
a white limy-looking substance, which appears slacked and
crumbling in pieces ; this is occasionally stratified, and then
shows layers of a hard flinty kind of opake clay, somewhat
resembling the singular layers of chalcedony that I have
seen in Phrygia. These hills, from the nature of their com-
position, are gradually washed away by the mountain-streams,
and deep ravines intersect the valley in all directions. These
ravines afford a beautiful variety of luxuriant vegetation;
the oleander, pomegranate, vine and plane, are in the sum-
mer contrasted with the dark green pines on the cliffs above.
March 7th.—Karasoo is a large straggling Turkish village,
with more than usual activity, from the various trades of the
potter, the dyer, and bleacher, which seem to be carried on
upon every open space in the town. Streams of excellent
water, as usual, run through almost every street; and
a clear stream with its deep ravine divides the town, and
forms an important tributary to the Mosynus, which has
its course in the valley about two miles below the town.
The name of Karasoo, meaning "black water," is probably
given from the appearance of the water in the shadowed
ravine, contrasted with the red or white muddy colour of the
water of the Maeander or Lycus. Coins and gems of a late
Greek age, and down almost to the time of the Crusades, are
offered here abundantly for sale, and are all obtained from
the neighbourhood of Yeerah, the ancient Aphrodisias, about
eight miles distant, which city was our attraction in visiting
this district; but the difficulty of obtaining horses in these
small places detains us here till tomorrow.
Sunday, March 8th.—In traversing the extended valley,
which at a distance appeared an immense plain, wherein are
m 3
■; " •' -• -\
wt. The mat.
APHEODISIAS.
249
■-•■'::::-;
• :.,:«,: r_"
for two bocR*
i ■
f rock
jj ibeweaternW
beipmg»
. Hi *■■"''
curious composition; on the surface the stones are so nume-
rous that the plough is not used; the beautiful stone-pine
and tufts of underwood are almost the only produce, and
beneath the surface the hills are formed of broken and
generally washed or rolled stones, held slightly together by
a white limy-looking substance, which appears slacked and
crumbling in pieces ; this is occasionally stratified, and then
shows layers of a hard flinty kind of opake clay, somewhat
resembling the singular layers of chalcedony that I have
seen in Phrygia. These hills, from the nature of their com-
position, are gradually washed away by the mountain-streams,
and deep ravines intersect the valley in all directions. These
ravines afford a beautiful variety of luxuriant vegetation;
the oleander, pomegranate, vine and plane, are in the sum-
mer contrasted with the dark green pines on the cliffs above.
March 7th.—Karasoo is a large straggling Turkish village,
with more than usual activity, from the various trades of the
potter, the dyer, and bleacher, which seem to be carried on
upon every open space in the town. Streams of excellent
water, as usual, run through almost every street; and
a clear stream with its deep ravine divides the town, and
forms an important tributary to the Mosynus, which has
its course in the valley about two miles below the town.
The name of Karasoo, meaning "black water," is probably
given from the appearance of the water in the shadowed
ravine, contrasted with the red or white muddy colour of the
water of the Maeander or Lycus. Coins and gems of a late
Greek age, and down almost to the time of the Crusades, are
offered here abundantly for sale, and are all obtained from
the neighbourhood of Yeerah, the ancient Aphrodisias, about
eight miles distant, which city was our attraction in visiting
this district; but the difficulty of obtaining horses in these
small places detains us here till tomorrow.
Sunday, March 8th.—In traversing the extended valley,
which at a distance appeared an immense plain, wherein are
m 3