DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0363
Chap, xx.]
BATHS OF CAUVSA.
333
may be the remains of Sagylium, the name given by Strabo
to a fort in this neighbourhood.*
The rocks which formed the northern or left bank of the
nver consist of volcanic pepei'ite, and a decomposing tra-
chyte, containing numerous angular fragments of other tra-
chytes, varying much in colour and hardness. I observed
no appearance of stratification, but the variations of colour
rather indicated an inclination to the N.E. Leaving the
valley of the Staular Chai on our left, we crossed another
low range of hills, consisting chiefly of sand and gravel,
and entered a rich valley, watered by a stream flowing
towards Cauvsa. Passing the village of Sousanji, and
crossing the stream, we followed its course until we reached
the village and baths of Cauvsa, half way between Vizir
Keupvi and Ladik. Here must be the ds^/xd ulara rSv
t&a.Qn^wtTwv, described by Strabof, and to which he attri-
buted great medicinal virtue. The place now consisted of
some ruined buildings of Byzantine character, and a few shops
and wooden sheds; while the sick population of the neigh-
bourhood were living in huts made of sticks and branches
on the hill side, their wet bathing clothes hanging out to
dry on every branch and bush around them.
In the wall of the mosque were three Greek inscrip-
tions, but written in such a barbarous character, on so bad
a stone, and so ill placed, that I found it impossible to de-
cipher them; they were all sepulchral. The other buildings
wore the baths, apparently of Byzantine construction; and
higher up the hill one which bore marks of the Saracenic
stjlo, called the refectory of a Turkish medresseh, or col-
lege, the ruins of which covered a considerable space of
ground below the baths. This college belonged to the
S°fta, a ]cind 0f monkish or religious order existing through-
out Turkey, being a branch of the Ulemah; they were
formerly a powerful and numerous body, but have lately
been reduced. The baths are now little visited; about
30 families only being there, besides a few in the neigh-
* Lib. xii. 560. t H>"-
BATHS OF CAUVSA.
333
may be the remains of Sagylium, the name given by Strabo
to a fort in this neighbourhood.*
The rocks which formed the northern or left bank of the
nver consist of volcanic pepei'ite, and a decomposing tra-
chyte, containing numerous angular fragments of other tra-
chytes, varying much in colour and hardness. I observed
no appearance of stratification, but the variations of colour
rather indicated an inclination to the N.E. Leaving the
valley of the Staular Chai on our left, we crossed another
low range of hills, consisting chiefly of sand and gravel,
and entered a rich valley, watered by a stream flowing
towards Cauvsa. Passing the village of Sousanji, and
crossing the stream, we followed its course until we reached
the village and baths of Cauvsa, half way between Vizir
Keupvi and Ladik. Here must be the ds^/xd ulara rSv
t&a.Qn^wtTwv, described by Strabof, and to which he attri-
buted great medicinal virtue. The place now consisted of
some ruined buildings of Byzantine character, and a few shops
and wooden sheds; while the sick population of the neigh-
bourhood were living in huts made of sticks and branches
on the hill side, their wet bathing clothes hanging out to
dry on every branch and bush around them.
In the wall of the mosque were three Greek inscrip-
tions, but written in such a barbarous character, on so bad
a stone, and so ill placed, that I found it impossible to de-
cipher them; they were all sepulchral. The other buildings
wore the baths, apparently of Byzantine construction; and
higher up the hill one which bore marks of the Saracenic
stjlo, called the refectory of a Turkish medresseh, or col-
lege, the ruins of which covered a considerable space of
ground below the baths. This college belonged to the
S°fta, a ]cind 0f monkish or religious order existing through-
out Turkey, being a branch of the Ulemah; they were
formerly a powerful and numerous body, but have lately
been reduced. The baths are now little visited; about
30 families only being there, besides a few in the neigh-
* Lib. xii. 560. t H>"-