DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0505
472
VALOBATCH.
[Chai\ xxvii.
picturesque descent into the rich and undulating district of
Yalobateh. Our direction was chiefly S.E., crossing a suc-
cession of ridges and intervening valleys watered by small
streams flowing S. and S.S.W. into the lake of Hoiran.
These ridges consist chiefly of limestone conglomerate and
beds of yellow clay ; the former containing pebbles derived
from Sultan Dagh, and cemented together in a calcareous
paste, while the latter is derived from the decomposing
shales. At twelve the lake of Hoiran was visible through a
gap in the hills S.W. by S., and camels and cattle were grazing
in the plains; about five miles before reaching Yalobateh
we passed the flourishing village of Segurler, embosomed in
gardens and surrounded by orchards and villas. Here we
changed our direction to S. by E., descending the valley,
which widened considerably, and meeting many peasants
returning from the bazaar at Yalobateh. The country
seemed well cultivated, and the peasants in easy circum-
stances ; 1 heard, however, afterwards several complaints
respecting them. At length the ruins of Antioch appeared
on the low hills to the left at the foot of the mountains, at a
distance of a mile and a half, the ruined aqueduct forming a
conspicuous object in the view; and we soon reached the
straggling town of Yalobateh. This is a small cassaba of
500 or 600 houses, belonging to the government of Isbarta,
watered by a small stream, which trickles through the
streets from the east, and falls into the lake of Egerdir.
The distance from Yalobateh to Aksheher is six hours over
the mountains, Aksheher being exactly opposite. This
agrees with Strabo's account of the relative positions of
Antioch of Pisidia and Philomelium, and leaves little doubt
that the latter town has been correctly placed at Aksheher.
Tuesday, September 27.—1 started early this morning
to see the ruins, which are about a mile and a half from
Yalobateh; they have been already so fully described by
Mr. Arundel,* who in one of his excursions from Smyrna
reached this place, that I shall be very brief in my notice of
* Discoveries in Asia Minor, vol. i. p. 260.
VALOBATCH.
[Chai\ xxvii.
picturesque descent into the rich and undulating district of
Yalobateh. Our direction was chiefly S.E., crossing a suc-
cession of ridges and intervening valleys watered by small
streams flowing S. and S.S.W. into the lake of Hoiran.
These ridges consist chiefly of limestone conglomerate and
beds of yellow clay ; the former containing pebbles derived
from Sultan Dagh, and cemented together in a calcareous
paste, while the latter is derived from the decomposing
shales. At twelve the lake of Hoiran was visible through a
gap in the hills S.W. by S., and camels and cattle were grazing
in the plains; about five miles before reaching Yalobateh
we passed the flourishing village of Segurler, embosomed in
gardens and surrounded by orchards and villas. Here we
changed our direction to S. by E., descending the valley,
which widened considerably, and meeting many peasants
returning from the bazaar at Yalobateh. The country
seemed well cultivated, and the peasants in easy circum-
stances ; 1 heard, however, afterwards several complaints
respecting them. At length the ruins of Antioch appeared
on the low hills to the left at the foot of the mountains, at a
distance of a mile and a half, the ruined aqueduct forming a
conspicuous object in the view; and we soon reached the
straggling town of Yalobateh. This is a small cassaba of
500 or 600 houses, belonging to the government of Isbarta,
watered by a small stream, which trickles through the
streets from the east, and falls into the lake of Egerdir.
The distance from Yalobateh to Aksheher is six hours over
the mountains, Aksheher being exactly opposite. This
agrees with Strabo's account of the relative positions of
Antioch of Pisidia and Philomelium, and leaves little doubt
that the latter town has been correctly placed at Aksheher.
Tuesday, September 27.—1 started early this morning
to see the ruins, which are about a mile and a half from
Yalobateh; they have been already so fully described by
Mr. Arundel,* who in one of his excursions from Smyrna
reached this place, that I shall be very brief in my notice of
* Discoveries in Asia Minor, vol. i. p. 260.