DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0478
ClIAP. XXV.]
ARMENIAN COIN-YENDER.
445
length caught him ahout twenty years ago, beheaded him,
and demolished his stronghold, and Sevri Hissar is now a
dependency of Brusa. I contrived with some difficulty and
danger to scale the insulated granite peak which towers
above the ruins, from whence the view was very grand and
striking. Mount Dindymus bore S.E., and the highest
point of Emir Dagh, S.S.W.; but I am disposed to think
that bearings taken from these high granitic or trappean
peaks are not always to be depended upon, the needle
being disturbed by local attraction.
Monday, September 19.—Ever since my ride to Bala
Hissar I had been in treaty with my Armenian friend for
the purchase of a parcel of coins, amongst which were a
large imperial coin of Pessinus, one of Amorium, and one
of Juliopolis, all in a beautiful state of preservation. This
morning before starting we came to an understanding, but
when he gave up the coins after he had received his money, I
found on examining my purchase that he had contrived to
abstract the three pieces above mentioned, and to substitute
three Byzantine coins of no value whatever. On being
reproached with his dishonesty he stoutly denied having
made any change, but at length pulled them one by one
out of his pocket and purse, observing very quietly that
they must have slipped out of the paper.
I left Sevri Hissar at a quarter before nine, and after
descending from the town continued for several miles along
a narrow, well-cultivated valley, with hills rising gently on
both sides, and gradually widening towards the south. At
the fifth mile, leaving the valley on the left, the road, still
in the same S.W. direction, led us over low undulating hills
of white cretaceous limestone, amongst which were several
beds of selenite, large fragments of which scattered about
on all sides glittered in the sunbeams in a most dazzling
manner. I immediately recognised the diamonds with
Avhich a friend who had once travelled this road by moon-
light had stated the ground to be covered. Continuing
our route for upwards of eight miles in the same direction
ARMENIAN COIN-YENDER.
445
length caught him ahout twenty years ago, beheaded him,
and demolished his stronghold, and Sevri Hissar is now a
dependency of Brusa. I contrived with some difficulty and
danger to scale the insulated granite peak which towers
above the ruins, from whence the view was very grand and
striking. Mount Dindymus bore S.E., and the highest
point of Emir Dagh, S.S.W.; but I am disposed to think
that bearings taken from these high granitic or trappean
peaks are not always to be depended upon, the needle
being disturbed by local attraction.
Monday, September 19.—Ever since my ride to Bala
Hissar I had been in treaty with my Armenian friend for
the purchase of a parcel of coins, amongst which were a
large imperial coin of Pessinus, one of Amorium, and one
of Juliopolis, all in a beautiful state of preservation. This
morning before starting we came to an understanding, but
when he gave up the coins after he had received his money, I
found on examining my purchase that he had contrived to
abstract the three pieces above mentioned, and to substitute
three Byzantine coins of no value whatever. On being
reproached with his dishonesty he stoutly denied having
made any change, but at length pulled them one by one
out of his pocket and purse, observing very quietly that
they must have slipped out of the paper.
I left Sevri Hissar at a quarter before nine, and after
descending from the town continued for several miles along
a narrow, well-cultivated valley, with hills rising gently on
both sides, and gradually widening towards the south. At
the fifth mile, leaving the valley on the left, the road, still
in the same S.W. direction, led us over low undulating hills
of white cretaceous limestone, amongst which were several
beds of selenite, large fragments of which scattered about
on all sides glittered in the sunbeams in a most dazzling
manner. I immediately recognised the diamonds with
Avhich a friend who had once travelled this road by moon-
light had stated the ground to be covered. Continuing
our route for upwards of eight miles in the same direction