314 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



into the Lake. The whole of the mountams closing in the N.E. 

 extremity of the Lake of Van are basaltic, and they present some 

 bold and imposing scenery to the traveller. 



On the north rises the lofty peak of Asuruk Dagh, with its crateri- 

 form centre, having much the aspect of a volcanic cone cleft on its 

 south side towards the Lake. Possibly from it issued forth the 

 streams of basalt on the N.W. side of the Kharpanak promontory. 

 I had no time to visit it. From the extremity of the Lake to Begiri 

 Kalah is a distance of (i^ miles along an alluvial plain, through which 

 flows the Bend i Mahi Sii. 



Following up the course of the stream from the Kalah, the road 

 traverses an open valley, ten miles in length, between high and 

 imposing cliffs of black basalt and grey basaltic lava ; the path is 

 much obstructed by lumps of loose scoriae. At one locality was 

 observed a mass of altered white travertin, overlaid by vesicular 

 basalt. Just previous to entering the spacious plain of Abagha (in 

 which are the abundant springs of the Bend i Mahi Sii) the stream 

 flows through low cliffs of columnar and compact basalt. 



Immediately on entering the Plain of Abagha, upon the left of 

 the road are some isolated rounded hills of white la^a, enclosing 

 glassy felspar, and capped by basalt. The contrast of opposite 

 colours is very remarkable. Several patches of compact blue lime- 

 stone likewise occur in the same vicinity. 



The N.W. extremity of the plain is bounded by a high mountain- 

 mass of black basaltic lava, called ** Tendiirli," an expressive name, 

 meaning '* ovens," because there is at the summit a small crater, 

 which emits such heat, according to the universally current account, 

 as to roast meat suspended over it. From this crater vast streams 

 of black lava have flowed down the sides of the mountain, appearing 

 in the distance as if petrified in their descent. Around the base of 

 Tendurli, and extending from it five miles into the plain, is one vast 

 sea- like mass of amorphous basalt, thrown up, rolled over, and 

 doubled upon itself; the surface being traversed by enormous fissures 

 which render it impassable. 



The road winds round the S.E. extremity of this uninviting and 

 sombre mass, and passes through a gap in a low blue limestone 

 range. This shoots across the plain from the N.N.W., and is 

 covered up on the N.E. by the lava-flow which has actually been 

 forced up the slope of the limestone dome. 



From this point, after a rough passage over scoriae, the base of 

 the lofty range of Kara Kalah Dagh is reached. This range consists 

 of altered red marls, and has clearly checked the further flow of the 

 lava towards the east. Near the summit of the pass over Kara 

 Kalah Dagh the surface is thickly strewed with rounded pieces of 

 yellowish-white pumice, varying to the size of half an inch. These 

 must have been thrown out when either the crater of Tendurli or 

 those of Mount Ararat were in an active state of eruption. The 

 little plain of Kasley Giil (which takes its name from a small lake 

 in its centre) is surrounded by mountains of hard red chert and 

 altered clays. A long pass over variegated marls conducts to the 



