TURKEY IN ASIA. 5 



Metals, minerals. ...The mountainous provinces of Turkey in 

 Asia no doubt abound in a variety of valuable minerals and metals; 

 but me ignorance and indolence of those who possess the country 

 are so great that nature has lavished her gifts in vain. 



Climate ....Though the climate of this country is delightful in the 

 utmost degree, anu naturally salubrious to the human constitution, 

 yet such is the equality with which the Author of Nature has dispen- 

 sed nis benefits, that Turkey, both in Europe and Asia, is often visit- 

 ed by the piague ; a fearlul scourge to mankind wherever it takes 

 piace, but here doubly destructive, from the native indolence of the 

 Turks, and their superstitious belief in a predestination, which pre- 

 vents them from using tne proper precautions to defend themselves 

 against this calamity. 



Soil and produce. ...As this country contains the most fertile pro- 

 vinces ot Asia, it is scarcely necessary to inform the reader that it 

 proouces ail the luxuries of life in the utmost abundance, notwith- 

 standing the indolence of its owners. Raw silk, corn, wine, oil, honey s 

 fruii of every species, coffee, myrrh, frankincense, and odoriferous 

 p. ants and drugs, are natives here almost without culture, which is 

 practised chiefly by Greek and Armenian Christians. The olives, 

 citrons, lemons, oranges, figs, and dates, produced in these provinces 

 are highly delicious, and in such plenty, that they cost the inhabi- 

 tants a mere trifle, and, it is said, in some places nothing. Their as~ 

 paragus is otten as large as a man's leg, and their grapes far exceed 

 those of other countries in largeness. In short, nature has brought 

 all her productions here to the highest perfection. 



Animals ...Tue breed of the Turkish and Arabian horses, the lat- 

 ter especially, are valuable beyond any in the world, and have consi- 

 derably improved that of the English. We know of no quadrupeds 

 that are peculiar to these countries, but they contain all that are ne- 

 cessary for the use of mankind. Camels are here in much request^ 

 from their strength, their agility, and, above all, their moderation in 

 eating and drinking, which is greater than that of any other known 

 animal. Their manufacture, known by the name of camlets, was ori<» 

 ginally made by a mixture of camel's hair and silk, though it is now 

 often made with wool and silk. Their kids and sheep are exquisite 

 eating ; and are said to surpass, in flavour and taste, those of Eu- 

 rope ; out their butcher's meat in general, beef particularly, is not so 

 fine. 



As to birds, here are wild fowl in great perfection : the ostriches 

 ace well known by their talines, swiftness in running, and stupidity. 

 Tie Roman epicures prized no fish, except lampreys, mullets, and 

 oysters, but those that were found in Asia. 



Natural curiosities.. ..The natural curiosities of Asiatic Turkey, 

 though no doubt they must be numerous, seem to have been little 

 explored or described by travellers, who have in general been more 

 attentive to the remains of antiquity with which almost all the pro- 

 vinces of this empire abound. 



Provinces, cities, chief tow'ns, edifices. ...The cities and towns 

 of Turkey in Asia are very numerous, and at the same time very in- 

 significant, because they have little or no trade, and are greatly decay- 

 ed from their ancient grandeur. Aleppo, however, preserves a re- 

 spectable rank among the cities of the Asiatic Turkey. It is still the 

 capital of Syria, and is superior in its buildings and conveniences to 

 most of the Turkish cities. The houses, as usual in the East, consist - 



