DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0189
Chap, xi.]
TRRBIZOND.
161
also found in the country of the Sanhi, a people inhabiting
the coast farther to the west.
May 24.—Having determined to extend my journey to
Erzeroum, and thence to visit Kars and the ruins of Anni,
before returning westward, 1 spent this day in making my
preparations and seeing some of the most interesting objects
in and about Trebizond* The principal articles of trade
m the bazaar were alum and copper brought from the
mines in the interior. The latter comes in a rough state,
and is here manufactured into different articles for domestic
or culinary purposes.
Beyond the low hills on which the town is built, and a little
to the south-east, rises a steep and almost insulated hill,
forming a perfectly level table-land, from which the town of
Trapezus must have derived its name. It is now called Boz
Tepc (grey hill), and consists of trachyte of a bluish colour,
partially covered with a tufaceous conglomerate, and beds
of volcanic sand and lapilli, and in some places decomposing
easily. I found in it numerous crystals of hornblende and
tourmaline, and some of a cruciform shape.
The situation of the Turkish town is very picturesque,
bounded to the east and west by rocky ravines of consider-
able depth, in all parts of which are rich and luxuriant
trees, and well-watered trardens ■ while the summits are
fringed with the venerable and time-worn ruins of the
Byzantine walls, which, with their numerous turrets and
battlements, peep out above the mass of foliage which
almost hides the rocky banks. This part of the town is
connected with the suburbs by a high and narrow bridge
on each side, and is defended by strongly-fortified gate-
ways, above which, and entirely occupying the ground
between the two ravines, are the extensive remains of an
old and picturesque castle, the outer walls of which are of
very great height. On one of its ivy-clad turrets we found
two or three brass guns in a very ruinous state. The castle
appears to be Byzantine, and was probably the palace of the
* See Macdonald Kinneir'a ' Journey through Asia Minor,' &c, p. 335.
TRRBIZOND.
161
also found in the country of the Sanhi, a people inhabiting
the coast farther to the west.
May 24.—Having determined to extend my journey to
Erzeroum, and thence to visit Kars and the ruins of Anni,
before returning westward, 1 spent this day in making my
preparations and seeing some of the most interesting objects
in and about Trebizond* The principal articles of trade
m the bazaar were alum and copper brought from the
mines in the interior. The latter comes in a rough state,
and is here manufactured into different articles for domestic
or culinary purposes.
Beyond the low hills on which the town is built, and a little
to the south-east, rises a steep and almost insulated hill,
forming a perfectly level table-land, from which the town of
Trapezus must have derived its name. It is now called Boz
Tepc (grey hill), and consists of trachyte of a bluish colour,
partially covered with a tufaceous conglomerate, and beds
of volcanic sand and lapilli, and in some places decomposing
easily. I found in it numerous crystals of hornblende and
tourmaline, and some of a cruciform shape.
The situation of the Turkish town is very picturesque,
bounded to the east and west by rocky ravines of consider-
able depth, in all parts of which are rich and luxuriant
trees, and well-watered trardens ■ while the summits are
fringed with the venerable and time-worn ruins of the
Byzantine walls, which, with their numerous turrets and
battlements, peep out above the mass of foliage which
almost hides the rocky banks. This part of the town is
connected with the suburbs by a high and narrow bridge
on each side, and is defended by strongly-fortified gate-
ways, above which, and entirely occupying the ground
between the two ravines, are the extensive remains of an
old and picturesque castle, the outer walls of which are of
very great height. On one of its ivy-clad turrets we found
two or three brass guns in a very ruinous state. The castle
appears to be Byzantine, and was probably the palace of the
* See Macdonald Kinneir'a ' Journey through Asia Minor,' &c, p. 335.