425 
at the foot of the Balcan or Mount Hcemus. Here he 
was obliged to remain two days before he could ven- 
ture to attempt the passage of the mountain, which was 
then covered with a great body of snow. 
On the 16th Ali Bey crossed the mountain, an un- 
dertaking which he would not even then have been able 
to accomplish, had he not taken the precaution to send 
some post horses before him, to open a way through 
the snow, which was three or four feet deep. Being 
arrived at the opposite side, he passed through a village 
called Bedjene, composed of wooden houses, which 
were half buried in the snow; and continuing to descend, 
he halted at Kaproa, a considerable village, the houses 
of which are built partly of stone and partly of wood. 
The chain of Balcan or Mount Haemus, which forms 
the boundary between Romelia and Bulgaria, being 
entirely covered with snow, offered nothing to the re- 
searches or observations of Ali Bey, but some spiculae 
of horn-stone. 
On the 17th he passed through Derroba, and arrived 
about noon at Terranova, a town situated on the de- 
clivity of two mountains, traversed by a fine river, and 
surrounded with a ditch and a low wall. This place con- 
tains several gardens and vineyards, some good-looking 
houses and covered bazars, but the whole were clothed 
with snow, and the season was unfavourable for ob- 
servation. 
Hence he pursued his journey, in order to halt at 
Podlieraischte. The houses at this place are almost sub- 
terranean, the walls that support the roof being only a 
foot above ground. The inhabitants, men as well as 
women, clothe themselves with sheep skins. 
The Bulgarian women are extremely small, but while 
young have a graceful air; after attaining, however, the 
Vol. II. 3 H 
