112 



PLAIN OF TCHELLER. 



ing track, and in two hours reached the chain 

 of small plains situated on the summit of the 

 broad flat barrier, intervening between the 

 plain of Kassabar and the sea-coast. These little 

 plains are intersected by low rocky ridges, sel- 

 dom more than two or three hundred feet high. 

 Some of the plains are well cultivated, especially 

 such as are in the neighbourhood of two or three 

 small villages ; the others are the grazing and 

 pasture lands of the herds and flocks of the 

 Turkomans encamped on them, whose mode of 

 life is exactly that pursued by their ancestors 

 before their invasion of Asia Minor, roving with 

 their cattle, as change of locality is necessary 

 with the change of season, and dwelling in black 

 cloth tents. 



The first plain we crossed was called Tcheller, 

 in which were a few of these Turkoman huts in 

 the midst of a luxuriant spring pasture, car- 

 peted by an exquisite blue Veronica, remind- 

 ing us of the names of the neighbouring sites. 

 An hour and a half after crossing several 

 of these basins, enclosed by barren rocks, we 

 arrived at a few fallen sarcophagi on the north 

 side of the ruins of Yarvoo. Leaving our 

 horses here with our guide, we dispersed in 



