'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.' [‎287] (354/905)

CHAP. XIII.]
THE INFERIOR CHAINS.
287
7000 feet at the remarkable peaks of Zigani, Fililein, and the
higher Karagul; from the first and last it is understood that
the sea is visible, and therefore one of these may be the moun
tain Theches, from whence the Greeks saw the sea when they
drew near Tarabuzun in the retreat under Xenophon.
To the northward an inferior chain runs parallel to the An inferior
Black Sea; its slopes are covered with timber, and have inBiacksea.^
many places a rich underwood of vines, myrtle, arbutus, &c.,
interspersed with fruit trees, hemp, and other productions;
and southward are other branches, two of which separate for
a time as they diverge from the principal range southward of
Niksar. The more northern of these, under the names of the
Ferahad Tagh, and the Arzlin Tagh, runs westward between
the valley of Amasiyah and the vale of Tirkali; whilst the
southern, called the Aklo Tagh, 1 separates the latter from
that of Tokat, and sweeps westward round the sources of the
Iris to Zileh. From hence it runs northward, and having
joined the other arm near Amasiyah, it takes a western direc
tion, and finally connects itself with the Kirk Delim and Koseh
Tagh, ranges which border the Halys beyond Osmanjik.
The former range rises to 3090 feet, and contains several
small sepulchral grots, in addition to a remarkable colossal monu
ment resembling the Tombs of the Kings at Amasiyah f and
the latter forms its prolongation till it joins the Tavshan Taghi,
or Hare Mountains, which are of sandstone and limestone, rising
to 3690 feet near the borders of the Halys. 3 On the western other^
side of this river the range is renewed in a westerly direction,
and it soon after shows the rugged peaks of the Alkas Tagh
or Olgassys, in which are numerous fossils, in addition to mines
of salt and orpiment. 4 From this chain are sent out, in the
direction of Kastamuni, the Ilik Tagh, and Yeralah Goz
Tagh; and again, northward of that place, into the Baldr
Kureh-si or copper district, the groups of Kizil Kara Taghi,
and Bakir Sultan. The main ridge, or Kuz Tagh, which
1 Of mica schist.—Mr. Ainsworth's Notes.
8 Travels and Researches in Asia Minor, &c., Vol. I. pp. 99, 100, and 102.
8 Mr. Ainsworth's Journey, Vol. IX., Part II., p. 260, of Royal Geographical
j ourna l. 4 Strabo, lib. XII., p. 562.