DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0114
86
MOUNTAIN SCENERY.
[Chap. v.
wild mountain-passes as safe as in the streets of Con-
stantinople.
The woods became less thick as we ascended, and
in many places were large tracts of forest, which had
been much injured by the spreading of the fire applied
to their roots, by which their picturesque appearance was
destroyed. On reaching the summit soon after 11 we
saw many large patches of snow on the northern slopes
of the hills below us. The rocks here consisted of a
hard and close-grained green-stone, decomposing to a
reddish-brown, in which were large patches of a more
earthy character, probably in a more advanced state of
decomposition. The pines were less abundant, and had
yielded to junipers, which grew with great luxuriance on
this elevated ridge.
After continuing for some miles along the top of the
ridge, we commenced our descent about 12, and soon
emerged from the pine-forests. At 1 p. m. a broad and
well-cultivated valley opened on our right, soon after which
we came in sight of the village of Djibeli, about two miles
off in the same direction. Near it was a small hill, on the
summit of which were the ruins of a castle, which appeared
to date from the Lower Empire, although the Greeks called
it Genoese.
At lh. 30 m. we entered another extensive forest of pines,
most of which had suffered from the practice before men-
tioned. The ground again sloped to the north towards the
llhyndacus, whilst on our right a high chain of mountains
of crystalline limestone extended from east to west. Pass-
ing through the villages of Dundar Kieui and Bourmah,
we found the Turkish inhabitants celebrating the feast of
the Kourbam Bairam. Dressed in their best and gayest
clothes, the men were collected in large groups outside the
village, smoking and indulging in silent meditation, or
receiving and returning the salutations of the passers-by;
whilst in the village the women, equally gaily dressed, might
MOUNTAIN SCENERY.
[Chap. v.
wild mountain-passes as safe as in the streets of Con-
stantinople.
The woods became less thick as we ascended, and
in many places were large tracts of forest, which had
been much injured by the spreading of the fire applied
to their roots, by which their picturesque appearance was
destroyed. On reaching the summit soon after 11 we
saw many large patches of snow on the northern slopes
of the hills below us. The rocks here consisted of a
hard and close-grained green-stone, decomposing to a
reddish-brown, in which were large patches of a more
earthy character, probably in a more advanced state of
decomposition. The pines were less abundant, and had
yielded to junipers, which grew with great luxuriance on
this elevated ridge.
After continuing for some miles along the top of the
ridge, we commenced our descent about 12, and soon
emerged from the pine-forests. At 1 p. m. a broad and
well-cultivated valley opened on our right, soon after which
we came in sight of the village of Djibeli, about two miles
off in the same direction. Near it was a small hill, on the
summit of which were the ruins of a castle, which appeared
to date from the Lower Empire, although the Greeks called
it Genoese.
At lh. 30 m. we entered another extensive forest of pines,
most of which had suffered from the practice before men-
tioned. The ground again sloped to the north towards the
llhyndacus, whilst on our right a high chain of mountains
of crystalline limestone extended from east to west. Pass-
ing through the villages of Dundar Kieui and Bourmah,
we found the Turkish inhabitants celebrating the feast of
the Kourbam Bairam. Dressed in their best and gayest
clothes, the men were collected in large groups outside the
village, smoking and indulging in silent meditation, or
receiving and returning the salutations of the passers-by;
whilst in the village the women, equally gaily dressed, might