'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.' [‎352] (427/905)

352
CILICIAN GATES.
[CHAP. XV.
of Pelvereh, the ancient Perre, and the connecting point in
the Antonine Itinerary, between the routes from Cappadocia,
Mesopotamia, Lesser Armenia, and Syria. The summit of
this pass is near the picturesque village of Erkenek, which
has an elevation of 3828 feet; and northward from thence,
the bed of the Gok-sii is at once a road and a water-course,
through a rocky glen of limestone precipices: this was lately
made passable for artillery by Hafiz Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
The Pashalik of Mar'ash represents the eastern extremity
of Cilicia with part of Cataonia and Melitene, and is thinly
peopled by fixed inhabitants, consisting of Turks and Kurds,
with a large proportion of Turkomans; the occupations of all
are almost entirely agricultural.
The narrow strip of I'ch-ili stretches westward from
Mar ash to Tekeh, between the Taurus on the north and the
Mediterranean on the south, and lies opposite to Cyprus, which
forms part of the jurisdiction. On the western side of this
territory, the Taurus sends those numerous branches which
procured for the district the appropriate name of rugged
Cilicia (Trachea); whilst the extensive plain of Adanah was
distinguished by that of Cilicia Campestris, on the borders of
which the slopes of the mountains terminate with a number
of parallel branches enclosing fertile valleys. On one of the
former, at the distance of 12 hours eastward of the Cilician
Gates, stands the castle of the chieftain Badinjan O'ghlu, a
massive pile of buildings with a platform about it, command
ing a prospect of singular richness and beauty.
Below are seen the Jaihan and Saihun, winding through the
cultivation and pastures of the Turkoman tribes, who are
spread over the plains of Tarsus, Adanah, and Misis; and
more inwards, in the direction of Sis, there is a succession of
cultivated valleys, separated by low shoulders, crowned with
villages or rather hamlets embosomed in a rich foliage of oak,
chestnut, arbutus, myrtle, &c., with the Durdun Tagh and
the rugged snow-clad peaks of Taurus in the back-ground.
Towards the western termination of the arms thus prolong
ing the slopes of Taurus to the level of Cilicia is the deep
rent or fissure which extends throughout its width from the