T. SPRATT ON THE COAL-BEARING DEPOSITS NEAR EREKLI. 525 



and steep ridges from 500 to 1500 feet high, ran north and south 

 at right angles to the coast, up to a curving ridge of limestone that 

 seemed to be 3000 feet or more in height, and distant from four or 

 five to ten or twelve miles. 



Extensive forests and underwood covered the larger portion of 

 these ridges and valleys, especially towards the interior ; whilst near 

 the coast the valleys were less wooded, and were in parts cultivated; 

 but the cultivation was very sparse. 



The position of Kosloo was recognized by the few houses forming 

 the settlement that stood near the shore of the little bay, as well as 

 by the heap of coal, about 9000 tons, accumulated near it ready for 

 shipment when the anchorage in the bay was considered safe for the 

 coast- craft that removed the coal to Erekli (as the local depot) 

 before transhipment for Constantinople, — the favourable season 

 for this not commencing, in general, before the middle or end of 

 May. 



I anchored in the little bay of Kosloo about noon, at about a 

 quarter of a mile from the shore, and was immediately joined by 

 Mr. Barkley, who I found had been in charge of the district, as its 

 Manager, for the last three years. With him there were four English- 

 men as foremen of the miners, who were chiefly natives, Sclavonians 

 and Hungarians. But during this time Mr. Barkley's English 

 colony of artificers, first introduced by him, had suffered greatly 

 from the malignant fever that prevailed in the autumn months all 

 through the district, as usual throughout Asia Minor — several having 

 died, and others having been obliged to return home. 



Having completed arrangements for the immediate shipment of 

 about 100 tons of the screened coal, so as to fairly test its steam- 

 generating properties on my return voyage to Constantinople, I 

 landed with Mr. Barkley and proceeded up the valley with him to 

 examine some of the mines or seams that were being worked by 

 him ; for, as the seams were seen cropping out on the sides of the 

 valley between the associated shales and schists, they were worked 

 by simple horizontal drifts or slightly inclined tunnellings into the 

 hill, as far as the seams were thus traceable. 



Erom the beach I found a tramway leading up the valley for a 

 distance of nearly two miles, with branches to the different drifts or 

 mines then being worked. 



During the remainder of this and the following day I examined 

 the different seams worked under Mr. Barkley, and entered three 

 or four mines or drifts that were then being so worked, as also 

 one or two that had already been worked out in consequence of 

 faults (or "troubles" as they are technically termed) that cut off the 

 continuance of the seam, and left no indication whether it was the 

 result of a downcast or otherwise. 



These drifts extended from about 100 to nearly 400 yards only 

 into the hill ; for the district was so disturbed by faults and displace- 

 ments, which occurred at every 200 or 300 yards, that several had 



