DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0387
Chap, xxi.]
PLAIN OF DAXIMONITIS.
357
CHAPTER XXI.
Leave Tocat—Kaas Ova, tlie Daximonitis of Strabo—Course of the Iris—Tourkhal
—Its castle—Ruined village of Khan Kieui—Road to Zilleh, anc. Zela—The
Mound of Semiramis — Site of Cajsar's victory — Meeting with gipsies at
Ashkaler—Plain of Amasia—Reacli that city—Its position—The Acropolis—
Tombs of the kings—Inscriptions—Turkish rains—Turkish legend.
Tuesday, August 9. — Tocat to Tourkhal eight hours.
Leaving the town, we passed by the Waiwoda Khan, a good
substantial building, and an old Mahometan shrine built in
the Saracenic style, resembling the Eski Djami. Then
turning to the west we skirted the base of the castle-hill,
while rich gardens extended on our right to the opposite
side of the valley. At the foot of the hills to the left was
a Turkish burial-ground; but without the lofty cypress
trees of Smyrna or Constantinople, it was neither pic-
turesque nor striking. One mile from the town we reached
the banks of the Iris, and rode for two or three miles
along its right or south bank, where we observed in
several places the oxen treading out the corn, and the
peasants strictly following the scriptural injunction of not
muzzling them. As we advanced, the valley widened to
an extensive plain, while the low hills in front, which
formed its western limit, were lost in the distance, arid in
the hot and yellow atmosphere of an Eastern summer.
This
tint seemed formed by the reflection of the numerous
corn-fields, the burnt-up verdure of the plain, and the
colouring of the barren hills.
At nine we forded the Iris, and continued down the plain
here called Kaas Ova, or Plain of Geese. It is the Daxi-
monitis of Strabo, through which he describes the Iris
flowing from east to west between Comana and Gazioura;
Jt is skirted on both sides by numerous villages, generally
PLAIN OF DAXIMONITIS.
357
CHAPTER XXI.
Leave Tocat—Kaas Ova, tlie Daximonitis of Strabo—Course of the Iris—Tourkhal
—Its castle—Ruined village of Khan Kieui—Road to Zilleh, anc. Zela—The
Mound of Semiramis — Site of Cajsar's victory — Meeting with gipsies at
Ashkaler—Plain of Amasia—Reacli that city—Its position—The Acropolis—
Tombs of the kings—Inscriptions—Turkish rains—Turkish legend.
Tuesday, August 9. — Tocat to Tourkhal eight hours.
Leaving the town, we passed by the Waiwoda Khan, a good
substantial building, and an old Mahometan shrine built in
the Saracenic style, resembling the Eski Djami. Then
turning to the west we skirted the base of the castle-hill,
while rich gardens extended on our right to the opposite
side of the valley. At the foot of the hills to the left was
a Turkish burial-ground; but without the lofty cypress
trees of Smyrna or Constantinople, it was neither pic-
turesque nor striking. One mile from the town we reached
the banks of the Iris, and rode for two or three miles
along its right or south bank, where we observed in
several places the oxen treading out the corn, and the
peasants strictly following the scriptural injunction of not
muzzling them. As we advanced, the valley widened to
an extensive plain, while the low hills in front, which
formed its western limit, were lost in the distance, arid in
the hot and yellow atmosphere of an Eastern summer.
This
tint seemed formed by the reflection of the numerous
corn-fields, the burnt-up verdure of the plain, and the
colouring of the barren hills.
At nine we forded the Iris, and continued down the plain
here called Kaas Ova, or Plain of Geese. It is the Daxi-
monitis of Strabo, through which he describes the Iris
flowing from east to west between Comana and Gazioura;
Jt is skirted on both sides by numerous villages, generally