DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5542#0198
CllAP. XU.]
AHKUT KHANA.
187
but on riding up to it and examining it, not a stone was
to be seen even in the wall of the mosque with the slight-
est claims to antiquity. I found only a miserable collection
of mud-huts, and these deserted. After crossing a bridge
over the dry bed of a torrent, we commenced ascending a
low range of undulating hills, consisting of horizontal con-
cretionary limestone and yellow earthy marls. This range
of hills appeared to extend north from Sultan Dagh, and
to separate the plain of Ak Sheher from that of Ilglmn : it
joins the chain of hills extending E.S.E. from Emir Dagh,
which forms the northern boundary of the plain of Ak
Sheher.
At ten we reached the village of Arkut Khana, watered
by a small stream called Yelan Youssuf Chai, which flows
into the lake of Ak Sheher. This village belongs to
the district and cassaba of Douan Hissar, a small town
three hours off, at the foot of Sultan Dagh. The barren
undulating country continued beyond Arkut Khana, con-
sisting of the same horizontal limestone, and presenting an
equally dreary aspect, without a tree. For many miles it
was a succession of chalk downs and dry valleys, in which
we met neither peasant, traveller, nor caravan. At length,
eight miles from Arkut Khana, the plain of Ilghun lay
before us, with a small lake at its N.E. extremity, sur-
rounded by steep rocky hills, which rise almost immediately
from the water's edge. It is much smaller than the others,
and not surrounded by such an extent of marshy land. On
the opposite shore is the village of Scharschi Kieui.
On descending into the plain I halted at some dilapidated
baths to visit the hot springs at the foot of the hill. In the
construction of the building, as in that of a small mosque
close by, many ancient blocks of marble have been used,
from which I copied an imperfect inscription,* apparently
sepulchral. The spring rises within the building, but I had
no means of ascertaining its temperature exactly, as several
persons were then bathing; I should, however, think it must
* See Appendix, Nos. 383.
AHKUT KHANA.
187
but on riding up to it and examining it, not a stone was
to be seen even in the wall of the mosque with the slight-
est claims to antiquity. I found only a miserable collection
of mud-huts, and these deserted. After crossing a bridge
over the dry bed of a torrent, we commenced ascending a
low range of undulating hills, consisting of horizontal con-
cretionary limestone and yellow earthy marls. This range
of hills appeared to extend north from Sultan Dagh, and
to separate the plain of Ak Sheher from that of Ilglmn : it
joins the chain of hills extending E.S.E. from Emir Dagh,
which forms the northern boundary of the plain of Ak
Sheher.
At ten we reached the village of Arkut Khana, watered
by a small stream called Yelan Youssuf Chai, which flows
into the lake of Ak Sheher. This village belongs to
the district and cassaba of Douan Hissar, a small town
three hours off, at the foot of Sultan Dagh. The barren
undulating country continued beyond Arkut Khana, con-
sisting of the same horizontal limestone, and presenting an
equally dreary aspect, without a tree. For many miles it
was a succession of chalk downs and dry valleys, in which
we met neither peasant, traveller, nor caravan. At length,
eight miles from Arkut Khana, the plain of Ilghun lay
before us, with a small lake at its N.E. extremity, sur-
rounded by steep rocky hills, which rise almost immediately
from the water's edge. It is much smaller than the others,
and not surrounded by such an extent of marshy land. On
the opposite shore is the village of Scharschi Kieui.
On descending into the plain I halted at some dilapidated
baths to visit the hot springs at the foot of the hill. In the
construction of the building, as in that of a small mosque
close by, many ancient blocks of marble have been used,
from which I copied an imperfect inscription,* apparently
sepulchral. The spring rises within the building, but I had
no means of ascertaining its temperature exactly, as several
persons were then bathing; I should, however, think it must
* See Appendix, Nos. 383.