268 Mr. C. G. Danford on the 



mands the defile of the Taurus known as the Cilician gates 

 (Pylse Cilicise) . Cannon and cannon-balls lay half imbedded 

 in the ground^ attempts to remove them having failed. The 

 road is here along a valley, the north side of which is 

 bounded by the Bulgar dagh^ and the south by the rocky moun- 

 tains of Anascha. The village of the same name is situated 

 on the north face of the mountain overlooking the valley of 

 the Sihoun. The elevation is about 4000 feet; and the views 

 on all sides ai"e very fine, especially to the north-east, where 

 rise the rocky walls and peaks of the Ala dagh. The latter 

 range is divided from the Anascha dagh by a branch of the 

 Sihoun {Sarus). On the opposite side of the valley only 

 firs grow, and it has rather a burnt-up look ; but on the 

 Anascha mountains vegetation is much more luxuriant, and 

 almost all the kinds of trees found in the Taurus are there 

 represented. Conifers hold the chief place. The most abun- 

 dant of these are " kizil cham ^' (red fir, P'mus laricio, Poir.) 

 and the silvery barked " ak cham^^ (white fir, P.fenzilii, Ant, 

 et Key), which takes the place of the former at about 4000 

 feet elevation. Clumps of '^' eladin " (spruce^ Abies cilicice) are 

 pretty numerous ; and higher up on the steep rocky slopes are 

 the dark silent "kartaran," or cedar-woods. These, together 

 with scattered stems of "ardytch^^ [Juniperus excelsa), form 

 the uppermost growth. This juniper is often of enormous size, 

 some measured at Zebil having, at a yard above the ground, 

 a circumference of more than 18 feet. The wood is of a red- 

 brown colour, highly scented, and splits with great ease and 

 smoothness. Two other smaller junipers are also common — 

 the red-berried " tikian ardytch " (/. rufescens) in the lower, 

 and the strong-smelling juniper (J. fcetidissima) in the upper 

 elevations. 



Next in importance are the oaks, here in great variety, but 

 very difficult to distinguish when devoid of leaves and fruit. 

 At the opening of spring, flowers appear in wonderful profu- 

 sion. Of Crocus, at least five kinds are common ; and other 

 beautiful genera, such as Scilla, Bellevalia, Muscari, Hya- 

 cinthus, and Xiphion, are well represented. 



We remained at Anascha from March 8rd to April 18th, 



