412 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
little dry grafs, which would inftantly feize the branches, and 
foon confumed the whole tree. The bafes of the mountains 
generally confift of tufa. Moft of the hills are divided by ra- 
pid rivulets of the pureft water. 
On commencing the afcent of Mount Taurus, obferved feve- 
ral roads leading to the right ; one of them conduds to the 
copper mines of Tokat, which are very rich, and yield a confi- 
derable revenue to the emperor. 
After defcending Mount Taurus, arrived in the extenfive 
plain of Boftan, which confifts of fertile foil, is watered by the 
river formerly called Sarus, and furrounded with mountains. 
Boftan is a town rather of fmall fize, and prefenting nothing 
memorable. Here I firft obferved little two-wheeled carts, 
drawn by two oxen. The wheels are folid, and the axle turns 
with them, fo that their progrefs is fufficiently vociferous. 
Market poor. The inhabitants, like thofe of Anatolia in gene- 
ral, form a ftriking contraft to the more polifhed natives of 
Syria. They infpeded us with ftupid curiofity, and without 
the ufual tokens of falutation pradlifed by the Arabs. The com- 
mon drefs a fhort jacket and fringed turban. The women here 
are of fair florid complexion, and wear on their heads broad 
flat pieces of metal, to fheker their faces from the fun and rain. 
Thefe reiemble common eating plates, and are fattened with 
ftrings under the chin ; the rich have them of filver, others are 
copper. Their perfons and motions are uncouth and d^ftitute 
of 
