288 LAKE OF AVELAN-GULE. 



with fruit-trees and tall poplars which tower up 

 in every directions The people were everywhere 

 civil and obliging ; and we strolled through the 

 streets unattended, without meeting any inter- 

 ruption, though the Frank dress is rarely seen 

 here. 



Part of the second day of our stay (17th May,) 

 was devoted to an excursion to the lake called 

 Avelan Gule, which lies beyond the hills sepa- 

 rating the Almalee plain from that connected with 

 it to the N. E. called Samar. The lofty peak 

 of Baydagh, the highest summit of the Solymian 

 mountains, bounds the lake on the east and 

 rises out of it. With its eastern base we had 

 been before familiar in the valley of Edebessus. 



May 18th, — We left Almalee for Armootlee, 

 not the village of that name which we had for- 

 merly visited, but another in the yailah. Our 

 way out of the town lay through avenues of 

 poplars bordering a road which wound among 

 vineyards and gardens. In each was a neat 

 little cottage or summer-house. Beyond the gar- 

 dens we came to the banks of the marsh, flooded 

 during the winter months, but crossed by cause- 

 ways and bridges in summer. To pass it we 

 were obliged to make a detour by a path which 



