DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0336
306
REACH SINOPE.
[Ciiai-. xviii-
boggy, through country of similar description, here and
there broken by a few woods.
At half-past three we descended to a flat plain near the
sea, watered by the Chobanlar Chai, the transparent water
of which rushed rapidly over limestone rocks, while the
banks were covered with plane-trees growing in great
luxuriance. This river is the Evarchus mentioned by
Arrian and other old geographers* as being SO stadia
from Sinope, and 70 from Carusa. It was the boundary
between Paphlagonia and Cappadocia, when the limits of
this latter province extended to theEuxine. After crossing
the river we soon regained the sea-side, from whence we pro-
ceeded along the beach, and half a mile beyond the river
passed a few huts, called Chobanlar, where some boats were
being built on the beach, marking the spot which was pro-
bably the station called Cyptasia by Ptolemy, and Cloptasa
by the Table, seven miles from Sinope; it was a place of
no importance, and no traces of it are now visible. After
proceeding for nearly two miles along the shore, we crossed
an extensive plain running far up into the country towards
the W. and N.W., on which many large herds of buffaloes
were grazing. From thence, leaving the coast, we ascended
low wooded hills, over which the road led for two or three
miles, gradually bending round to N. by E.: the character of
the country to the walls of Sinope consisted in a succession
of low hills reaching to the water's edge, and covered with
wood. At half-past six, within two miles of Sinope, we
passed a fountain, where the cover of a sarcophagus had
been used as a trough ; soon after which we found ourselves
amono'st <>-ardens and villas. For a mile or two before rcach-
ing the town, the road led partly along, and partly by the
side of, a causeway, or paved road, in places much in-
jured, but wider than most others which I have seen in
Asia Minor.
A few minutes after seven, descending from the sand-hills
* Valerius Flaccus.
REACH SINOPE.
[Ciiai-. xviii-
boggy, through country of similar description, here and
there broken by a few woods.
At half-past three we descended to a flat plain near the
sea, watered by the Chobanlar Chai, the transparent water
of which rushed rapidly over limestone rocks, while the
banks were covered with plane-trees growing in great
luxuriance. This river is the Evarchus mentioned by
Arrian and other old geographers* as being SO stadia
from Sinope, and 70 from Carusa. It was the boundary
between Paphlagonia and Cappadocia, when the limits of
this latter province extended to theEuxine. After crossing
the river we soon regained the sea-side, from whence we pro-
ceeded along the beach, and half a mile beyond the river
passed a few huts, called Chobanlar, where some boats were
being built on the beach, marking the spot which was pro-
bably the station called Cyptasia by Ptolemy, and Cloptasa
by the Table, seven miles from Sinope; it was a place of
no importance, and no traces of it are now visible. After
proceeding for nearly two miles along the shore, we crossed
an extensive plain running far up into the country towards
the W. and N.W., on which many large herds of buffaloes
were grazing. From thence, leaving the coast, we ascended
low wooded hills, over which the road led for two or three
miles, gradually bending round to N. by E.: the character of
the country to the walls of Sinope consisted in a succession
of low hills reaching to the water's edge, and covered with
wood. At half-past six, within two miles of Sinope, we
passed a fountain, where the cover of a sarcophagus had
been used as a trough ; soon after which we found ourselves
amono'st <>-ardens and villas. For a mile or two before rcach-
ing the town, the road led partly along, and partly by the
side of, a causeway, or paved road, in places much in-
jured, but wider than most others which I have seen in
Asia Minor.
A few minutes after seven, descending from the sand-hills
* Valerius Flaccus.