DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0323
294
KOUMJAAS.
[Chap, xvm-
off, but which gradually receded before we reached Koum-
jaas. We were now entering the district, which by some
geographers has been considered to be that of Pteria, cele-
brated by Herodotus * as the country in which the great
battle was fought between Cyrus and Crcesus. This, how-
ever, should be looked for farther south, as, although said
to be opposite the Sinopian territory, it was considered as a
part of Cappadocia; besides which, this extreme northern
district could hardly have been in the line of country
through which Crcesus would have passed on his march
towards Persia.
Koumjaas is a small port, and serves as the scala of
Bafra, where the tobacco grown in that district is shipped
for Constantinople. Several vessels were waiting for their
cargoes in the roadstead, which is said to be safe through-
out the winter. A backwater formed by a stream which
here falls into the sea, and from which it is separated by
a ridge of sand, nowhere above a hundred yards across,
forms a harbour, near which are a cafe, and a few wooden
shops and stables, used when the bazaar is held, and
forming a small quadrangle, defended by a low rotten bank,
with two or three holes for embrasures intended for guns
equally useless.
Samsun Bournou, or Kailou Bournou, bore from Koumjaas
S. 53 E.; and while the horses were baiting, I obtained a
meridian altitude which gave 41° 28' 30" N. lat. At half-
past twelve we started for Bafra, and leaving the sea-
shore, and passing round the western side of the lagoon,
soon entered a sandy but grassy plain, chiefly covered with
rich and luxuriant woods. As we advanced inland the
forests became thicker, and the trees much larger; and
in contrast with the grassy glades, produced a striking
mixture of forest and park-like scenery, the pleasing effect
of which was increased by the cattle grazing at large over
the unreclaimed district. About two miles from Koumjaas
I turned off from the road to visit a salt lagoon, which
* Heiwl. lib. i. 76.
KOUMJAAS.
[Chap, xvm-
off, but which gradually receded before we reached Koum-
jaas. We were now entering the district, which by some
geographers has been considered to be that of Pteria, cele-
brated by Herodotus * as the country in which the great
battle was fought between Cyrus and Crcesus. This, how-
ever, should be looked for farther south, as, although said
to be opposite the Sinopian territory, it was considered as a
part of Cappadocia; besides which, this extreme northern
district could hardly have been in the line of country
through which Crcesus would have passed on his march
towards Persia.
Koumjaas is a small port, and serves as the scala of
Bafra, where the tobacco grown in that district is shipped
for Constantinople. Several vessels were waiting for their
cargoes in the roadstead, which is said to be safe through-
out the winter. A backwater formed by a stream which
here falls into the sea, and from which it is separated by
a ridge of sand, nowhere above a hundred yards across,
forms a harbour, near which are a cafe, and a few wooden
shops and stables, used when the bazaar is held, and
forming a small quadrangle, defended by a low rotten bank,
with two or three holes for embrasures intended for guns
equally useless.
Samsun Bournou, or Kailou Bournou, bore from Koumjaas
S. 53 E.; and while the horses were baiting, I obtained a
meridian altitude which gave 41° 28' 30" N. lat. At half-
past twelve we started for Bafra, and leaving the sea-
shore, and passing round the western side of the lagoon,
soon entered a sandy but grassy plain, chiefly covered with
rich and luxuriant woods. As we advanced inland the
forests became thicker, and the trees much larger; and
in contrast with the grassy glades, produced a striking
mixture of forest and park-like scenery, the pleasing effect
of which was increased by the cattle grazing at large over
the unreclaimed district. About two miles from Koumjaas
I turned off from the road to visit a salt lagoon, which
* Heiwl. lib. i. 76.