DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0350
320
BOIAVAD.
[Chap. xix.
whence we descended into the plain watered by the Kara Su,
or, as it was here called, the Costambol Chai, which we
reached in less than half an hour. I could not learn that
this river was here known by the name of Kara Su, although
it is sometimes called the Giaour Irmak. We forded the
two branches of it without much difficulty, and continued
for nearly half a mile along the south or right bank, amidst
fields of rice, corn, and millet, separated by rows of fruit-
trees, until leaving the river we crossed the plain towards
Boiavad, the picturesque rock and castle of which appeared
about two miles off to the S.W. by S. These extensive
plains, watered by the Giaour Irmak, or ancient Amnias,
are celebrated for the great victory gained by Mithridates
over Nicomedes king of Bithynia, and the Romans under
Marius, in the year b. c. 88, at the commencement of the
first Mithridatic war.*
Notwithstanding the great heat, I halted at noon to
obtain a meridian altitude, which gave the latitude
41° 27' 30'' N.f Ascending the bed of the Boiavad Sri, we
had a fine view of the narrow gorge, through which the tor-
rent has forced its way between two lofty rocks. The ruined
castle crowns the summit of the eastern point, which must
be between three and four hundred feet above the bed of the
river. We soon entered the town of Boiavad, where I
took up my quarters in a large verandah outside a Turkish
house, where the thermometer at four p.m. was 92° Fahr.;
at five, 90"; and at six p.m., 86°. At 10 p.m. it was 83°.
This town contains about 300 houses, most of which are
Turkish; some few are also inhabited by Greeks. Numerous
villages, lying chiefly along the banks of the Giaour Irmak,
arc dependent upon it as their principal town. Large quan-
tities of rice are grown in the district, the usual price of
which is eight or nine piastres per batman of six okes, or
14 or 15 lbs.; but it was now much dearer.
* Appian, Mithr., c. 18. Strabo, lib. xii. p. 502.
f Mr. Ainsworth, who has been there since with better means of observation,
makes the lat. of Boiavad 41° 20' 42".
BOIAVAD.
[Chap. xix.
whence we descended into the plain watered by the Kara Su,
or, as it was here called, the Costambol Chai, which we
reached in less than half an hour. I could not learn that
this river was here known by the name of Kara Su, although
it is sometimes called the Giaour Irmak. We forded the
two branches of it without much difficulty, and continued
for nearly half a mile along the south or right bank, amidst
fields of rice, corn, and millet, separated by rows of fruit-
trees, until leaving the river we crossed the plain towards
Boiavad, the picturesque rock and castle of which appeared
about two miles off to the S.W. by S. These extensive
plains, watered by the Giaour Irmak, or ancient Amnias,
are celebrated for the great victory gained by Mithridates
over Nicomedes king of Bithynia, and the Romans under
Marius, in the year b. c. 88, at the commencement of the
first Mithridatic war.*
Notwithstanding the great heat, I halted at noon to
obtain a meridian altitude, which gave the latitude
41° 27' 30'' N.f Ascending the bed of the Boiavad Sri, we
had a fine view of the narrow gorge, through which the tor-
rent has forced its way between two lofty rocks. The ruined
castle crowns the summit of the eastern point, which must
be between three and four hundred feet above the bed of the
river. We soon entered the town of Boiavad, where I
took up my quarters in a large verandah outside a Turkish
house, where the thermometer at four p.m. was 92° Fahr.;
at five, 90"; and at six p.m., 86°. At 10 p.m. it was 83°.
This town contains about 300 houses, most of which are
Turkish; some few are also inhabited by Greeks. Numerous
villages, lying chiefly along the banks of the Giaour Irmak,
arc dependent upon it as their principal town. Large quan-
tities of rice are grown in the district, the usual price of
which is eight or nine piastres per batman of six okes, or
14 or 15 lbs.; but it was now much dearer.
* Appian, Mithr., c. 18. Strabo, lib. xii. p. 502.
f Mr. Ainsworth, who has been there since with better means of observation,
makes the lat. of Boiavad 41° 20' 42".