'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.' [‎353] (428/905)

CHAP. XV.]
CAPPADOCIAN GATES.
353
crest to the base of the chain, lying nearly on one level, and Double pass
lorming the ordinary route between Syria and Lesser Asia. The S £*
wm mgs of this break in the mountains give a distance of about
83 miles, the ride having, in my case, with good horses, con
sumed 26^ hours. The pass has this peculiarity, that instead
of traversing a high mountain, such as that of Ali-Shehr, it
runs oyer a summit-level of moderate height towards each
extremity; and as both are approached through deep rocky
defiles, the celebrated gates may in consequence be considered
as consisting of two distinct portions. Beginning southward,
an ordinary mountain valley, having a width varying from
1 to 2 miles, winds north-westward between wooded shoulders,
crowned with villages for a distance of about 25^ miles from
the plain of Adanah to Golek Boghaz. The advanced posts of
the Egyptians were near the latter point, where the pass nar
rows to about half a mile; and a little forward, to about 200
yards, between precipitous ledges of limestone, rising to 200
and sometimes to more than 500 feet. On the lower parts of
these ledges are occasionally seen traces of those extraordinary
excavations which here and elsewhere show the difficulties
surmounted by the ancients in opening their roads. Several
high batteries occupy a tongue a little on one side, so as to
command the pass from the approach, and prevent a direct
attack. In the mountains, some 8 or 10 miles to the N.W., Mines,
are the silver and lead mines, from which, at one time, Ibrahim
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. vainly expected to fill his coffers almost without expense.
The pass of Golek Boghaz has an elevation of about 3000 feet;
the village of that name has 5000, and the mines 9000 feet, wliile
the crest of this part of the Taurus is 13,000 feet. 1 North
eastward of this part of the pass a water-course serves for a time
as the road; and the scenery from thence by Menzil Khan is
alpine, and scarcely less striking than that of the Ali-Shehr
pass. Rocks protrude through pines, cedars, &c.; and their
bare conical summits rise above the woods to a height of 3000
or 4000 feet. This is succeeded by a narrow valley covered
with pines, near which the Kara guhid su, the western affluent
1 According to the calculations made by Signor Borriano, the director of the
mines, in 1835.
VOL. I. ^ Z