DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0196
168
DESCENT TO GUMISCHKHANA. [Chap. xi.
below. Then, leaving the river, we ascended the steep hills
to the south, and, after a winding road for several miles over
an equally barren and stony tract of country, we reached the
crest of another chain of hills, which forms the northern limit
of the valley of G iimischkhana.
The granite and igneous rocks near Stavros had been
succeeded by a thick formation of indurated shales, lime-
stone, and sandstone, dipping S. by W. at an angle of 35°,
which in some of the ravines were penetrated to a great
distance by eruptive masses and dykes of trap. We con-
tinued on this formation until we reached the summit
of the ridge, when, on commencing the perilous descent
towards Giimischkhana, the stratified rocks were suddenly
cut off by a hill of porphyritic trachyte. The view towards
the west was very extensive, its effect being increased by
the contrast of light and shadows caused by an approach-
ing thunder-storm which soon burst upon us in all its wild
sublimity.
Looking back from the foot of the mountain at the
chaotic mass of broken rocks which we had descended, it
seemed impossible for the ingenuity of man to have found
a path over such rugged ground, down which even our
chavasse had thought it prudent to dismount. Another
mile, of easier descent, brought us to a stream, which we
followed to its junction with the river of Giimischkhana;
the air was strongly impregnated with the pleasant but
rather sickly smell of the wild barberry, now in flower.
Our road led between the stream on the right, and lofty trap
rocks on the left, covered with an efflorescence of sulphur;
but soon after reaching the Giimischkhana river we crossed
it by a fine stone bridge of a single arch, and of considerable
span, and continued S. by E. for about two miles, winding up
a valley confined by lofty mountains, between gardens and
orchards in the highest state of cultivation. Here every-
thing seemed backward, and the fruit-trees were only now
putting on the first blush of spring; amongst them quinces,
apricots, cherries, and walnuts, were most numerous. At
DESCENT TO GUMISCHKHANA. [Chap. xi.
below. Then, leaving the river, we ascended the steep hills
to the south, and, after a winding road for several miles over
an equally barren and stony tract of country, we reached the
crest of another chain of hills, which forms the northern limit
of the valley of G iimischkhana.
The granite and igneous rocks near Stavros had been
succeeded by a thick formation of indurated shales, lime-
stone, and sandstone, dipping S. by W. at an angle of 35°,
which in some of the ravines were penetrated to a great
distance by eruptive masses and dykes of trap. We con-
tinued on this formation until we reached the summit
of the ridge, when, on commencing the perilous descent
towards Giimischkhana, the stratified rocks were suddenly
cut off by a hill of porphyritic trachyte. The view towards
the west was very extensive, its effect being increased by
the contrast of light and shadows caused by an approach-
ing thunder-storm which soon burst upon us in all its wild
sublimity.
Looking back from the foot of the mountain at the
chaotic mass of broken rocks which we had descended, it
seemed impossible for the ingenuity of man to have found
a path over such rugged ground, down which even our
chavasse had thought it prudent to dismount. Another
mile, of easier descent, brought us to a stream, which we
followed to its junction with the river of Giimischkhana;
the air was strongly impregnated with the pleasant but
rather sickly smell of the wild barberry, now in flower.
Our road led between the stream on the right, and lofty trap
rocks on the left, covered with an efflorescence of sulphur;
but soon after reaching the Giimischkhana river we crossed
it by a fine stone bridge of a single arch, and of considerable
span, and continued S. by E. for about two miles, winding up
a valley confined by lofty mountains, between gardens and
orchards in the highest state of cultivation. Here every-
thing seemed backward, and the fruit-trees were only now
putting on the first blush of spring; amongst them quinces,
apricots, cherries, and walnuts, were most numerous. At