246 ANCIENT SITE. 



of a tomb, and traces of ancient fortifications. 

 The other, was more profitably employed in a 

 visit to the site of an ancient city, close to 

 the village. After riding for an hour through 

 shut-up bazaars, handsome but deserted coun- 

 try-houses and cottages in excellent repair, 

 ranged along the willow-planted sides of a clear 

 stream, we came to a ravine in the hills whence 

 the waters issued. One side of this glen is form- 

 ed by a high craggy hill of hard limestone, in 

 the cliffs of which are ancient cuttings, and a 

 single uninscribed rock-tomb. On the lower 

 hills of soft chalky strata, in the immediate 

 neighbourhood, were other remains of exten- 

 sive walls, partly built of soft stone and partly 

 of burnt brick. Below the first hill, near a 

 mosque with a handsome minaret, is a large 

 well-built Turkish edifice, used as a khan, and 

 of the same age and style as that at Lagon. 

 In its walls are many remains of antiquity, and 

 the columns supporting its arches are ancient, 

 though surmounted by Turkish capitals. In a 

 burial ground near, were also ancient relics. 

 We found no inscription to enable us to deter- 

 mine the name of the ancient city of which 

 this had evidently been the site. A reference 



