DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0324
®HAlp. xvi.[.] NAUSTATHMUS—BAFRA. 295
extends many miles from N.N.E. to S.S.W., having to the
N. a communication with the sea, from which it is sepa-
rated by a narrow neck of land. It appears to be a portion
°f the Naustathmus; the ground about it is low and
marshy, the water shallow, and it agrees with the concise
description of Arrian :—" From the river Halys to Naus-
tathmus, where is a marsh, 90 stadia; thence to Conopceium,
another marsh, 50 more." Near the southern extremity
of the lake, where 1 rejoined the road, were the ruins of
some Turkish baths, from which the lake has acquired the
name of Hamamli Ghieul. To the right the plain was
bare for some distance, but our road continued through
woods and grassy glades, where we fell in with a party of
Kurds, both men and women, on horseback; the women
were not veiled, and some of them might be called hand-
some.
At half-past three, having travelled N.W. six or seven
miles from Koumjaas, we ascended a ridge of low sandy
hills devoid of wood, and with little cultivation. These
hills towards the south extended to the foot of a high
range of mountains, while to the north they sloped away
towards the plain about two miles off. Soon after four
we descended into the plain of Bafra, and as we approached
the town passed several chifliks and cottages in the plain,
which became more frequent as we advanced. Near the
town the ground was marshy, and we entered the place by
a long and narrow causeway. It had a clean and quiet
look, embosomed in gardens and trees, with nothing but
the tall minaret of the mosque to announce that we were
approaching a town of so much consequence. I was in-
formed by the Greek papas, whose residence I found pre-
pared for my reception, that it contains 1160 houses, of
which 1000 are Turkish, 100 or 110 Greek, and 50 Ar-
menian. I could not learn that any fine wool was produced
in this district,* or anywhere between this and Samsun,
which is an additional reason for not supposing it to have
* Strabo, lib. xii. p. 316.
extends many miles from N.N.E. to S.S.W., having to the
N. a communication with the sea, from which it is sepa-
rated by a narrow neck of land. It appears to be a portion
°f the Naustathmus; the ground about it is low and
marshy, the water shallow, and it agrees with the concise
description of Arrian :—" From the river Halys to Naus-
tathmus, where is a marsh, 90 stadia; thence to Conopceium,
another marsh, 50 more." Near the southern extremity
of the lake, where 1 rejoined the road, were the ruins of
some Turkish baths, from which the lake has acquired the
name of Hamamli Ghieul. To the right the plain was
bare for some distance, but our road continued through
woods and grassy glades, where we fell in with a party of
Kurds, both men and women, on horseback; the women
were not veiled, and some of them might be called hand-
some.
At half-past three, having travelled N.W. six or seven
miles from Koumjaas, we ascended a ridge of low sandy
hills devoid of wood, and with little cultivation. These
hills towards the south extended to the foot of a high
range of mountains, while to the north they sloped away
towards the plain about two miles off. Soon after four
we descended into the plain of Bafra, and as we approached
the town passed several chifliks and cottages in the plain,
which became more frequent as we advanced. Near the
town the ground was marshy, and we entered the place by
a long and narrow causeway. It had a clean and quiet
look, embosomed in gardens and trees, with nothing but
the tall minaret of the mosque to announce that we were
approaching a town of so much consequence. I was in-
formed by the Greek papas, whose residence I found pre-
pared for my reception, that it contains 1160 houses, of
which 1000 are Turkish, 100 or 110 Greek, and 50 Ar-
menian. I could not learn that any fine wool was produced
in this district,* or anywhere between this and Samsun,
which is an additional reason for not supposing it to have
* Strabo, lib. xii. p. 316.