'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎293] (360/905)

CHAP. XUI.]
THE SOUTHERN TAURUS.
293
which, however, seems to have been included Mount Argseus
and the interior branches running towards, as well as east
ward, of the Euphrates.
It now remains to notice the southern abutments of the Taurus proper:
plateau, by continuing the description of the range denomi
nated Taurus proper, from the borders of the territory to
which it has already been followed. 1 From the banks of the
Euphrates, near Gergen Kal'eh-si, the chain takes a west-
south-westerly direction through the pashalik of Mar'ash,
showing the elevated limestone summits of Ura Baba, Ashur
Tagh, Nurhak Tagh, Kanlu Tagh, Najar Tagh, Tojik Tagh,
Ak Tagh, and Ali-Sh6hr Tagh. The last is a little way
northward of the capital, and it is called Gouger-houad by
the Armenians; 2 from which neighbourhood the Amanus
branch quits the southern, and, as has just been seen, the
Anti-Taurus quits its northern slopes.
Thus far the Taurus occasionally presents bare and steep
acclivities, but in general it is thickly wooded, and singularly
marked by the extraordinary depth of its valleys, which are
thickly clothed with a variety of shrubs, and, not unfre-
quently, quite shut in by stupendous precipices.
A few miles westward of Mar'ash a change takes place, its description
. ij 'i i r we8 ^ war( i
and the chain presents three distinct naked ridges, each 01 Mar'ash.
which is composed of masses of rock with conical summits,
having nearly equal elevations: since snow remains on the
ridges throughout the summer, that elevation must be con
siderable ; and it increases on approaching the Pylse Cilicise,
where it is about 13,000 feet. The vast masses of limestone,
of which the chain is almost entirely composed, are usually
separated by wild and deep parallel ravines, which are either
shut in by steep wooded acclivities, or vertical precipices,
through which passages are effected at intervals, but with
much difficulty. The scenery, though far superior, may, in
some respects, be compared to that of the Tyrol; and the
paths being carried some hundreds of feet above the foot of
1 See above, p. 10.
a Mem., &c., par St. Martin, Vol. I., p. 181.