DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5542#0159
148
YELAN HISSAR KALE'H.
[Chap, xxxix
near the tents, and to visit the castle at the entrance of the
narrow pass; my tent was pitched close to the river-hanks
on some soft turf, surrounded by tamarisks and willows.
Presently, without any apparent cause, the river rose
above a foot, and the water became yellow and muddy. I
could only account for it by supposing that the Aineh Chai,
which was very muddy when I had last seen it, must have
been dammed up for some purpose or other, and was now
let out again ; for there were no indications of storms gather-
ing, or clouds collecting in the mountains. The junction
of the Demirji Chai with the Hermus was a little below
our encampment in the open valley, about half a mile from
the village. I here learnt that the name of the castle
which I wished to see was Yelan Hissar Kaleh; and, pro-
ceeding towards it, I found a strongly-fortified position and
town built on a rocky promontory consisting of mica schist
with many quartz veins, stretching from N.E. to S.W., and
surrounded on all sides, except at the N.E., by steep and
almost inaccessible precipices. The walls were built of
thin flat stones, sometimes, but not always, cemented to-
gether. At the entrance were two large blocks of varie-
gated marble, which formed the side-posts of the gate. It
was impossible to judge of its age from the style of build-
ing, as the schistose nature of the rock would have admitted
of no other. Within the walls, which could be clearly
traced, were many remains of houses and other edifices,
and near the southern extremity was a large building, at
rather a lower level, coated within with a strong red cement:
from having no windows, I concluded that it had been a
reservoir or cistern. I was told there was a cave which led
by a subterranean passage to the river, but I could not find
it. A considerable fall in the level of the river from the
point at which I had last crossed it was indicated by the rise
of the barometer, which in the evening was as follows:
ther. 83°; bar. 29.156; att. ther. 80°.
Thursday, June 15.—We started before seven, fording
the Hermus above its junction with the Demirji Chai.
YELAN HISSAR KALE'H.
[Chap, xxxix
near the tents, and to visit the castle at the entrance of the
narrow pass; my tent was pitched close to the river-hanks
on some soft turf, surrounded by tamarisks and willows.
Presently, without any apparent cause, the river rose
above a foot, and the water became yellow and muddy. I
could only account for it by supposing that the Aineh Chai,
which was very muddy when I had last seen it, must have
been dammed up for some purpose or other, and was now
let out again ; for there were no indications of storms gather-
ing, or clouds collecting in the mountains. The junction
of the Demirji Chai with the Hermus was a little below
our encampment in the open valley, about half a mile from
the village. I here learnt that the name of the castle
which I wished to see was Yelan Hissar Kaleh; and, pro-
ceeding towards it, I found a strongly-fortified position and
town built on a rocky promontory consisting of mica schist
with many quartz veins, stretching from N.E. to S.W., and
surrounded on all sides, except at the N.E., by steep and
almost inaccessible precipices. The walls were built of
thin flat stones, sometimes, but not always, cemented to-
gether. At the entrance were two large blocks of varie-
gated marble, which formed the side-posts of the gate. It
was impossible to judge of its age from the style of build-
ing, as the schistose nature of the rock would have admitted
of no other. Within the walls, which could be clearly
traced, were many remains of houses and other edifices,
and near the southern extremity was a large building, at
rather a lower level, coated within with a strong red cement:
from having no windows, I concluded that it had been a
reservoir or cistern. I was told there was a cave which led
by a subterranean passage to the river, but I could not find
it. A considerable fall in the level of the river from the
point at which I had last crossed it was indicated by the rise
of the barometer, which in the evening was as follows:
ther. 83°; bar. 29.156; att. ther. 80°.
Thursday, June 15.—We started before seven, fording
the Hermus above its junction with the Demirji Chai.