'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.' [‎358] (433/905)

358 CLIMATE SOUTHWARD OF THE TAURUS. [CHAP. XVI.
position of Asia Minor, is, in consequence of the elevation
of the country, considerable; and the variations produced by
its forests, lakes, and rivers, are such that a general descrip
tion can scarcely convey an adequate idea of the climate of this
region.
Asia Minor has three great natural divisions; the first and
principal of which is the remarkable tract which, stretching
from east to west between two great ranges, may be considered
as one vast mountain—the Taurus of Strabo; 1 the second
consists of numerous valleys and plains, forming the slopes of
this elevated territory towards the shores of the Black Sea;
and the third is a similar tract at the opposite extremity, or
southward of Taurus; this constitutes the remainder of the
peninsula.
JboutTarsus In be g innin g with tlle climate of the last division, it will
&c. ' be found that, towards its eastern extremity, notwithstanding
the temperate breezes from the sea on one side, and the wooded
slopes of Taurus on the other, such an overpowering
degree of heat is experienced, especially in the cotton and
tobacco tracts near Tarsus, Adanah, and Sis, that a large por
tion of the inhabitants are obliged to leave their crops for a
time, and take shelter in the mountains, in order to avoid the
formidable malaria engendered about those places. But in
the remainder of this pashalik, and still further westward, in
those of I'ch-ili, Tek6h, and Mentesha, the aspect of the
country is greatly changed, and the temperature is lower.
Instead of the uniformly rich soil of Campestris and Campus
Aleius, 2 there is a succession of rocky and wooded mountains
enclosing rich valleys or small plains, among which are the
swamps near Limyra, those along the Dalomon Chai, 3 the
Maeander, 4 and the Caystrus, 5 and also the marshes about
Caunus, the noxious exhalations from which gave rise to the
* Its width is said to be 3000 stadia, or nearly 340 miles : see above, p 71 •
and Strabo, lib. XI. r '
2 Strabo, lib. XL, p. 675.
" ^ r - ^'Tt 8 Discoveril!8 in Ly™. &<:• London, 1841, pp. 98, 206.
Strabo, lib. XI., p. 636.
8 Ibid., p. 442.
Natural
divisions.