of Gurun. This singular town is in the heart of the mountains,
and occupies a central point from whence three great
arms may he followed in different directions. One of these is
marked by a double line of groups running north-westward to
the prolongation of the Kara-Bel at the plain of Ka'isariyeh ;
and its principal peaks are the Kara Tunus Tagh Yel Gadu-
gi, the Sarichik Tagh (Yellowish Mountain), the Shemah
Tagh (Mount Flambeau), the Teger Tagh, the Viran Shehr
Tagh, and the Khanzir Tagh; which are composed of limestone
and gypsum, rising at the highest point to about 5400
feet.1 "
Again, on the opposite side of Gurun, the valley of the
Tokhmah-su is bounded by an almost continuous chain,
formed by the groups of Bel-li-Gedik Tagh, rising to 5625
feet,2 and those of the Akjah Tagh, which are connected
with the slopes of Taurus proper, a little way southward
of Malatiyah.
The third, or remaining branch, which is alpine and
picturesque, diverges almost at a right angle, or south-west
from the valley of the Tokhmah-su, and it incloses the
Tashli Gokcheh, the Kara Bunar, and the Abasil-li valleys,
in addition to two extensive plains. The first of these is,
surrounded by the groups of the Yel Gadugi, the Gok dil-li,
and a part of the Ali Tagh ranges ; and the second, called the
Ova al Bostan, lies between the flat and lofty limestone ridges
of Casterman, JebelSersaf and Kusher Tagh. Towards its
northern termination, with an elevation probably exceeding
7000 feet, the chain separates the head waters of the Sai'hun
and Jai'han, whilst the opposite, and, perhaps, higher extremity
is lost in the southern Taurus. The sides of this extensive
chain are clothed with the largest timber, chiefly pines;
whilst the fissures and ravines have an underwood of arbutus,
myrtle, rose, and other shrubs. Without doubt these mountains
represent the principal part of the Anti-Taurus,3 within
1 Mr. Ainsworth’s Journey: Vol. X. Part III., p. 312, of the Royal
Geographical Journal.
2 Ibid., p. 319.
s Strabo, lib. XI., p. 520, and lib. XII., p. 535.
which, however, seems to have been included Mount Argseus
and the interior branches running towards, as well as eastward,
of the Euphrates.
It now remains to notice the southern abutments of the
plateau, by continuing the description of the range denominated
Taurus proper, from the borders of the territory to
which it has already been followed.1 From the banks of the
Euphrates, near Gergen Kal’eh-si, the chain takes a west-
south-westerly direction through the pashalik of Mar’ash,
showing the elevated limestone summits of Ura Baba, Ashur
Tagh, Nurhak Tagh, Kanlu Tagh, Najar Tagh, Tojik Tagh,
Ak Tagh, and Ali-Shehr Tagh. The last is a little way
northward of the capital, and it is called Gouger-houad by
the Armenians;2 from which neighbourhood the Amanus
branch quits the southern, and, as has just been seen, the
Anti-Taurus quits its northern slopes.
Thus far the Taurus occasionally presents bare and steep
acclivities, but in general it is thickly wooded, and singularly
marked by the extraordinary depth of its valleys, which are
thickly clothed with a variety of shrubs, and, not unfre-
quently, quite shut in by stupendous precipices.
A few miles westward of Mar’ash a change takes place,
and the chain presents three distinct naked ridges, each of
which is composed of masses of rock with conical summits,
having nearly equal elevations: since snow remains on the
ridges throughout the summer, that elevation must be considerable
; and it increases on approaching the Pylse Ciliciee,
where it is about 13,000 feet. The vast masses of limestone,
of which the chain is almost entirely composed, are usually
separated by wild and deep parallel ravines, which are either
shut in by steep wooded acclivities, or vertical precipices,
through which passages are effected at intervals, but with
much difficulty. The scenery, though far superior, may, in
some respects, be compared to that of the Tyrol; and the
paths being carried some hundreds of feet above the foot of
1 See above, p. 10.
8 Mem., &c., par St. Martin, Vol. I., p. 181.