OF THE DISTRICT OF CAVALLA, TURKEY. 73 



vation. The soils are light ferruginous loams. The plain produces 

 annually about 4,500,000 lbs. to 5,000,000 lbs. The produce is known 

 by the local denomination of " bashi-baghli," or " head tied," on account • 

 of the tobacco, when packed, being tied together by the stalk in bundles 

 of ten or fifteen leaves. These are of the character known in botany as 

 " petiolate," from having " petioles," or footstalks. The little bundles 

 are called " manoks," and correspond to the " handwork " of American 

 tobaccos. The best leaves, distinguished by a stronger and more sub- 

 stantial texture and a dark red hue, are reserved for the Constantinople 

 market. The less substantial and lighter coloured find a sale in Russia. 

 The value is from 4^d. to 7-|d. per lb., and some of the finest sort even 

 fetches Is. to Is. 4d. per lb. The mountain tobacco is much inferior in 

 quality to the above. The annual yield is about 1,700,000 lbs. About 

 one-half of the leaf is made up in the form of "- bashi-baghli," or " head 

 tied," the other half is known as " bassma " pressed, that is to say, the 

 leaves being " sessile," or without petioles (footstalks), do not admit of 

 being tied together, and consequently the " manoks " or "hands " con- 

 sist simply of several leaves pressed together. Mountain " bashi- 

 baghli" and "bassma" are both exported to Europe. Value, 2-|d. 

 to 6d. per lb. 



The Vale of Pravista. — The growth is known by the name of 

 "Demirli" (ferruginous), the village which introduced the cultivation 

 into the district. The upper extremity alone of the valley is planted 

 with tobacco. The soil is a light ferruginous loam, inferior in richness, 

 to that of Drama. Annual production, 1,700,000 lbs., exported prin- 

 cipally to Europe in the form of " head tied" or " bashi-baghli." Qua- 

 lity inferior, unsubstantial, and dark-coloured leaf. Value, 2d. to 3^d. 

 per lb. 



Cavalla. — In this locality, from the close vicinity of the hills, the 

 gravelly element in the soils greatly predominates. Production yearly 

 600,000 lbs. Form chiefly bashi-baghli. Quality inferior, principally 

 consumed by home markets. Value, 2d. to 4d. per lb., and some of the 

 finer 7d. per lb. The produce of the above localities is shipped at 

 Cavalla. 



Sarishdban.— This district produces annually 2,250,000 lbs., of which 

 seven-eighths is "bashi-baghli," or "head tied." Plain, hill, and 

 mountain are alike cultivated. The produce of the hill and plain is 

 called " Ghynbek" (navel), and is packed in small parcels of 30 lbs to 

 50 lbs. each, called " boghchas." These " boghchas" are distinguished 

 into two classes, the finest as "beyaz" (white), so called from the white 

 cotton wrappers in which they are made up ; and the secondary as 

 " kenavir" (canvas), from their coarse linen coverings. These are the 

 golden-leafed tobaccos so highly prized in Turkey. The finest, consist- 

 ing of about 600,000 lbs., are produced from the rising grounds. The 

 crop raised on the plain comes next in estimation. With the exception 



