DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0479
446
ALEKIAM.
[Chap, xxv-
over these hills of limestone, some of the beds of which con-
tained much white flint, we commenced at the fourteenth
mile a descent by a narrow valley, which brought us to the
flat and arid-looking plain of the Sakaria or Sangarius, and
at a quarter after one reached the Tchiflik of Tchander,
sixteen miles from Sevri Hissar. This miserable-looking
spot, situated on the north bank of the deep and winding
river, is yet a considerable mart, and a halting-place for
caravans.
The river, which appeared to contain quite as much water
as when I crossed it before, must I think be the main
branch of the Sangarius. It was perfectly clear, and
flowed with great rapidity, particularly through the bridge;
and, though very winding, its general direction through
the plain is from W.N.W. to E.S.E. We crossed it by
an old stone bridge, in the construction of which many
fragments of ancient monuments and other buildings have
been employed, derived from the neighbouring ruins.
Two of these bore inscriptions, but too much injured to
be deciphered; on another was a pretty bas-relief, repre-
senting a female sitting on a chair. It is remarkable that
Pococke, who was at the neighbouring village of Alekiamon
his way to Sevri Hissar, says nothing about this river.
Soon after leaving; Tchander and crossing: the Sang-arius
we changed our direction to W. by S., and, keeping along
the southern edge of the plain at the foot of the low chalk
hills for four miles, reached the tents of the Turcoman
village of Alekiam, in the midst of which mine was
also pitched. Their tents were all well shaped, being
formed of strong wicker-work, covered over with car-
pets and felt or numud, generally of a dirty greyish-
white colour; they were pitched in several divisions, from
ten to twenty in each : the Turcomans remain here all
the summer, their village or winter residence being about
three miles off to the N.W. The burial-ground of Ale-
kiam was close to us, and was full of broken columns,
and other ancient remains, on several of which were
ALEKIAM.
[Chap, xxv-
over these hills of limestone, some of the beds of which con-
tained much white flint, we commenced at the fourteenth
mile a descent by a narrow valley, which brought us to the
flat and arid-looking plain of the Sakaria or Sangarius, and
at a quarter after one reached the Tchiflik of Tchander,
sixteen miles from Sevri Hissar. This miserable-looking
spot, situated on the north bank of the deep and winding
river, is yet a considerable mart, and a halting-place for
caravans.
The river, which appeared to contain quite as much water
as when I crossed it before, must I think be the main
branch of the Sangarius. It was perfectly clear, and
flowed with great rapidity, particularly through the bridge;
and, though very winding, its general direction through
the plain is from W.N.W. to E.S.E. We crossed it by
an old stone bridge, in the construction of which many
fragments of ancient monuments and other buildings have
been employed, derived from the neighbouring ruins.
Two of these bore inscriptions, but too much injured to
be deciphered; on another was a pretty bas-relief, repre-
senting a female sitting on a chair. It is remarkable that
Pococke, who was at the neighbouring village of Alekiamon
his way to Sevri Hissar, says nothing about this river.
Soon after leaving; Tchander and crossing: the Sang-arius
we changed our direction to W. by S., and, keeping along
the southern edge of the plain at the foot of the low chalk
hills for four miles, reached the tents of the Turcoman
village of Alekiam, in the midst of which mine was
also pitched. Their tents were all well shaped, being
formed of strong wicker-work, covered over with car-
pets and felt or numud, generally of a dirty greyish-
white colour; they were pitched in several divisions, from
ten to twenty in each : the Turcomans remain here all
the summer, their village or winter residence being about
three miles off to the N.W. The burial-ground of Ale-
kiam was close to us, and was full of broken columns,
and other ancient remains, on several of which were