DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0257
228
KARA AGATCH.
[Chap. xiv.
In wandering about the village, as I constantly did when
not too much fatigued with my day's journey, T found an in-
teresting section of columnar amygdaloidal trap, reposing
upon horizontal sand, the upper portion of which had been
much altered by contact with the trap rock, which had
apparently flowed over it in an ignited state from a high
conical hill to the N.N.W. of the village. That portion of
the sand which was in immediate contact with the trap was
reduced to a state closely resembling it, but much softer,
and had entirely lost all traces of horizontality. In the
downward section it gradually became less homogeneous,
approaching more nearly to the subjacent unaltered sand-
stone, which was probably also of volcanic origin, i, c. mud
and ashes thrown out from the same crater previous to
the eruption of the lava.
Here I was unable to procure fresh horses, there being
none in the village except those of the spahi. These spahis
are the remains of the former cavalry of Turkey, who were
stationed in different districts for the purpose of collecting
duties, tithes, and taxes, for the government. On the
establishment of the new Tactico or Nizam force, all the
spahis who wished to preserve their privileges were com-
pelled, whether old or young, to enter into the regular
cavalry, but in time of peace were allowed to reside in se-
parate villages. This one (and generally only one is
found in each village) still continued to collect the taxes
for the government. I was therefore obliged to take on the
wretched cattle of Ispir nine hours further, to Baibourt.
Friday, June 24.—A shower of rain which fell last night
had greatly refreshed the air, and we started soon after six,
over undulating hills in a W.S.W. direction, slightly di-
verging from the Tchoruk, until we descended into a deep
ravine, through which a stream flowed north. Ascending
a steep and wooded hill well covered with low oak-cop-
pice, and juniper, and smaller aromatic plants, we con-
timicd over the hills for some miles, crossing several
streams, all flowing to the north, until we reached a
KARA AGATCH.
[Chap. xiv.
In wandering about the village, as I constantly did when
not too much fatigued with my day's journey, T found an in-
teresting section of columnar amygdaloidal trap, reposing
upon horizontal sand, the upper portion of which had been
much altered by contact with the trap rock, which had
apparently flowed over it in an ignited state from a high
conical hill to the N.N.W. of the village. That portion of
the sand which was in immediate contact with the trap was
reduced to a state closely resembling it, but much softer,
and had entirely lost all traces of horizontality. In the
downward section it gradually became less homogeneous,
approaching more nearly to the subjacent unaltered sand-
stone, which was probably also of volcanic origin, i, c. mud
and ashes thrown out from the same crater previous to
the eruption of the lava.
Here I was unable to procure fresh horses, there being
none in the village except those of the spahi. These spahis
are the remains of the former cavalry of Turkey, who were
stationed in different districts for the purpose of collecting
duties, tithes, and taxes, for the government. On the
establishment of the new Tactico or Nizam force, all the
spahis who wished to preserve their privileges were com-
pelled, whether old or young, to enter into the regular
cavalry, but in time of peace were allowed to reside in se-
parate villages. This one (and generally only one is
found in each village) still continued to collect the taxes
for the government. I was therefore obliged to take on the
wretched cattle of Ispir nine hours further, to Baibourt.
Friday, June 24.—A shower of rain which fell last night
had greatly refreshed the air, and we started soon after six,
over undulating hills in a W.S.W. direction, slightly di-
verging from the Tchoruk, until we descended into a deep
ravine, through which a stream flowed north. Ascending
a steep and wooded hill well covered with low oak-cop-
pice, and juniper, and smaller aromatic plants, we con-
timicd over the hills for some miles, crossing several
streams, all flowing to the north, until we reached a