1836.] Report of the Euphrates Expedition. 677 



low hills of sandstone, are the remains of a road and archway constructed in 

 part of sandstone, but chiefly of polygonal masses of basalt and lavnl, whicb no 

 doubt have given rise to its name, Demir Kapon, Iron Gate, and Kara Kapon, 

 Black Gate, — the Armenian Gates of Ptolemy ; Amanicae Pylcs of Colonel 

 Leake ; Upper Armenian Gates, Rennell ; Tirnovr Kapon, or the Gate of Ta- 

 merlane, {Mecca itinerary by Geographical Society of Paris.) From hence the 

 party visited Ayas (<4gce) the mouths of the Jihoun (Pyramus), where an interesting 

 examination took place of the progress of alluvial deposits. The most westerly 

 point reached was Karadask, the site of Mallus and Megarsus. The whole of 

 the party being sick, the pass of Bylan was the only position examined on the 

 return to Antioch. 



In the neighbourhood of Amelia Dep6t, the points of most interest were the 

 course of the Orontes, examined by Lieutenant Cleaveland, Messrs. Eden, 

 Charlewood, and FitzJames ; and the ruins of Selucia Pieria also made the 

 object of interesting researches. About the same time, various other under- 

 takings were in progress. The gentlemen already named, in conjunction with 

 Messrs. Hector and Bell, were in turns employed on different points, repair- 

 ing and widening the road from the mouth of the Orontes to Antioch ; a work of 

 considerable labour, especially in making the fords over the rivers practicable 

 for waggons. Captain Estcourt and Dr. Staunton had gone on a journey 

 of remonstrance to the Civil Governor of Syria at Damascus, — visiting as they 

 returned Bualliec and the cedars of Lebanon. Lieutenant Lynch was employed 

 in improving the line of route from Antioch by Djezer haded to Bir ; and, lastly, 



Lieutenant Cockburn was employed (after Captain Estcoukt's visit to 

 Reschid Paciia at Diarbek) in throwing up some slight field works, and con- 

 structing slips at a spot selected for this purpose, 1^ miles below Bir on the 

 right bank, and now called Port William. 



To avoid the mischievous effects of idleness, as well as to carry the heavy 

 weights to Antioch by water (when denied all other local means by Govern- 

 ment), the Tigris was puc together on the Orontes during the month of May 

 as a working shell, in which state she was steaming experimentally, when the 

 Pacha withdrew his outward opposition on the 3d of June. Towards the mid- 

 dle of that month commenced the dispatch of the light stores on camels and 

 mules, and towards its close some trains of waggons* passed through Antioch 

 carrying heavy weights, but this being found a dilatory operation, the water 

 communication was looked to once more, along a new line which promised many 

 advantages. The Orontes, the Lake of Antioch, and the Kara-son, were, there- 

 fore, examined ; and upon the reports and maps thus obtained, the Commander 

 ordered a Depot (the 2d) to be formed at Goozel Burge, " pretty tower," a 

 village on the Orontes 3 miles above Antioch, when the infinite variety of ma- 

 teriel, including the more ponderous objects, such as boilers, the eight sections 

 (into which the Tigris had been divided,) diving bells, &c. were to be put on 

 rafts, flat boats, and pontoons, in order to be transported by the Orontes into 

 Kara-soo, (black water,) and along this navigable stream into the Lake Owja 

 Dengis f white sea,) keeping along its western side on account of the deeper 

 water, and ultimately ascending the Ultra Kara-soo to a spot called Moorad 

 Pacha, near the Village of Gule Bachee, " head of the waters," a little beyond 

 the junction of the Aswad and Yagra rivers, the whole distance being fourteen 

 hours from Goozel Burge. The abundant spring called Gule Pachee issues out of 

 a pseudo-volcanic mound rising out of the plain. The Bridge of Moorad Pa- 

 cha is chiefly a causeway resting on the soil, but in parts supported by arches, 

 and crossing that part of the plain of Umk which is most liable to be inundated, 

 for a distance of about three miles. This plain is inhabited by pastoral and No- 

 made Turcomans living in tents, who are a quiet people. The ancients appear to 

 have known in this tract the rivers Oinaparas, Arcenthus, Labotas, Ufrenus, 

 and the ditch of Meleagrus. The actual fluents of the Lake are the Aswad, 

 or Asond, the Yagra (uniting to form the Kara-soo) the Aphreen traversing 

 the Cyrrhesteca, the rivulet of Hareem and the Orontes, but the first mentioned; 

 have various tributaries to the north, with different appellations. On the road 



* Twenty-seven vehicles of different kinds were constructed at Amelia Depot, 

 and there were thirty-three, including the artillery waggons, from England. 



