EDWARD RIGGS. 105 
With the means at the disposal of the ancients the 
amount of labor represented by this series of tombs is 
comparable to nothing but that which produced the 
pyramids of Egypt. But, like those marvels of con- 
structive energy, they would seem to fail of their imme- 
diate object, for, while they may have been used for the 
purpose designed, they are now voiceless and tenantless, 
they commemorate no one, and only excite in the be- 
holder a profound regret at the absolute waste of so 
much energy. Similar tombs, but of a smaller size and 
generally inferior workmanship, are found on other 
rocks in the neighborhood, and about a mile from the 
town, right down near the roadside, is one which will 
vie with the finest of them in every respect. The natives 
have given it the name of *‘mirror cavern,’ because the 
entire limestone exterior surface of the cube is polished 
to a such wonderful smoothness and lustre that it actu- 
ally does reflect objects, like polished marble. 
There is one other mysterious, relic of antiquity, 
which, though not immediately connected with the cas- 
tle, deserves a word of notice in this connection, as a 
similar relic of an enterprize involving vast expenditure 
of energy, and now wholly useless, though in this case 
originally with a very practical design. 
The river Iris as it approaches the city runs through 
a fertile valley and very near to the precipitous base of 
a huge mountain, which rises right back of Amasia, 
called for some reason ‘‘ guitar mountain,’’ a very noted 
place for robbers. Between the river and the base of the 
cliff runs the great highway to Sivas and Bagdad, and 
alongside this road, in the very base of the rock are 
the remains of a large water-way cut right out of the 
solid limestone. ‘Traces of this more or less distinct run 
along for miles. It is about four feet deep and the same 
in width, a continuous stone trough, originally covered 
with heavy slabs of stone, and evidently designed to 
