TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 711 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. On Current Polar Exjiloration. By Col. H. W. Feilden.^ 



2. On a Recent Journey in the Valley of the Euphrates. 

 By D. G. Hogarth. 



This journey was undertaken for archaeological reasons in order to see whether 

 remains of Roman frontier works exist on the right bank of the Euphrates in a state 

 of preservation similar to that of Severus's road to Melitene, explored by Messrs. 

 Hogarth and Munro in 1891. Mr. Hogarth's party consisted of Messrs. V. W. 

 Yorke and F. W. Green and Lord Encombe. 



' The great river Euphrates ' was seen first at Khalfat. Here and for 300 miles 

 up it can be crossed only by ferry boats of singularly rude construction ; and the 

 process of crossing with horses in such craft is exciting. The upper course of the 

 river is rarely navigated and only by skin-rafts and swimmers on skins partly filled 

 with grain. The depth and precipitousness of its gorge cause the Euphrates to be 

 a serious barrier, and no road can long follow either bank. From Khalfat to 

 Samsat the party had to cut off a bend, passing through villages of settled Kurds, 

 tamed by the possession of agricultural wealth, and imbued through contact with 

 Arabs and Syrians with orthodox Islam, Above Samsat the gorge soon becomes 

 impassable, and dangerous rapids begin. The party made straight across Taurus, 

 meeting great difficulties from narrow paths on precipices and soft snow. Descend- 

 ing near Malatia they made their way past the junction of the northern and eastern 

 forks, about whose names and respective claim to be the main stream there seems 

 much error in maps. The natives call the northern fork Murad, not Kara Su, and 

 consider it the main river. The name Frat is known, but little used. North of the 

 j unction, where the Kurdish mountains hang over the left bank, the scenery is 

 very grand indeed. The party continued to follow the river up to Erzingan. 



The Kurds here are heretical and wilder than in the south. The Armenians 

 are less servile than ordinary, but, being alive to the religious, social, and geo- 

 graphical difficulties in the way of independence, would gladly be left alone by 

 agitators. There is little evidence of wanton oppression, least for religion's sake. 

 Less is heard in the country than out of it of Kurdish tyranny. Armenians are well 

 off in many respects, better in some than poor Moslems. Their condition is not 

 improved, but the reverse, by ii-responsible and otiose expressions of sympathy in 

 Europe. Geographical considerations go far to preclude Armenia from becoming 

 again a nation. Legionary camps were found at Samosata and Satala, but none at 

 Melitene. A magnificent Roman bridge exists near Kiakhta and ruins of others, 

 but no milestones or roadway connecting frontier forts, two of which were dis- 

 covered. The reported walls along the bank south of Taurus were found to consist 

 of ruins of an aqueduct. The river itself formed the most impassable of frontiers : 

 it might well have seemed that the angel's vial must be poured out on the great 

 river Euphrates, and the waters thereof dried up ere the way of the kings of the 

 East could be prepared. 



3. On Russian Armenia. By Dr. A. Markoff.* 



4. Montenegro. By W. H. Cozens-Hardy. 



Montenegro, since the Berlin treaty, has nearly doubled in area. The old 

 Montenegro, which lies near the sea, is made up of bare limestone mountains en- 

 closing fertile basins, the average height of the country above the sea being 2,000 

 to 3,000 feet. The Zeta, flowing into the Lake of Scutari, is the chief river, but 

 this part of the country is almost destitute of water, and the inhabitants are com- 

 pelled to store snow for drinking. The small village of Cetiuje, which forms the 



' Scot. Oeog. Mag., 1894, p. 465. <= Ibid. p. 469. 



