'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.' [‎304] (371/905)

304
amaslyah and tokat.
[chap. xiv.
about 1000 houses, situated in the narrow valley of the Char
Shambah-sti; at the commencement of a luxuriant plain, and
amidst a forest of fruit trees. 1
city of The interesting city of Amasiyah is nearly in the centre
of the district, and still contains 3970 houses, which are
shaded by extensive mulberry plantations on both banks of
the Iris, 2 over which there are four bridges. The deep and
extensive valley of the city of Strabo 3 is further remarkable
from its picturesque character, and from containing an elevated
citadel, beneath which the singular and almost inaccessible
tombs of the kings of Pontus have been excavated in the
face of the rock.
Amasiyah is under a Musellim, who pays a fixed sum from
the products of the district; and the average crop of silk
collected is about 66,000 lbs. 4
There are two other dependencies of the jtashalik in this
Towns of direction, Tokat and Zileh. The latter contains 2000 houses
on a rising ground, whose summit is occupied by a fortress.
The khans are large, and the shops numerous ; but the place
is most remarkable for an annua] fair of 15 days towards the
close of November, when it is the resort of 40,000 or 50,000
people from all the commercial cities of Asia Minor, Syria,
and Mesopotamia; at which time cotton, wool, silk and
linens are bartered for cloths, indigo, English cotton twist,
&c. 5 In this fine district the vine, fruits, and grain are exten
sively cultivated.
and T6kaf. Tokat is situated in a pretty valley, and contains about
6730 tiled houses, some of which are well built and handsome,
but the greater part are mere sheds, and the streets are filthy!
The town has an extensive dyeing establishment, and another
for printing cottons; there are also two furnaces, in which
1 Mr. Brant's Journey: Vol. VI. Part II., p. 220, of the Royal Geographical
Journal.
2 Mr. Suter's Journey: Vol. X. Part III., p. 412, ibid.
3 Lib. XII., p. 560.
4 Mr. Suter's Journey; Vol. X. Part III., p. 442, of the Royal Geographical
Journal. -or
5 Ibid., p. 441.