2 76 
SECOND EXCURSION TO THE 
^vn P ‘ ^ ere mentioned. Its remains are less remark - 
v - — 1 able than those of Mankoop, upon the other 
side of the defile; on this account we preferred 
making a visit to the latter : turning off, there- 
fore, to a village upon the left hand, we were 
provided with beautiful Tahtar horses and 
guides for the undertaking. 
Mankoop. The citadel of Mankoop is of very extraor- 
dinary magnitude; and it may be truly described 
as being in the clouds. It covers the summit 
of a semicircular insulated mountain, which, 
owing to its frightful aspect, its altitude, and 
its craggy perpendicular sides, independently of 
every other consideration than as a surprising 
work of nature, fills the mind with wonder, upon 
entering the defile. In this singular situation, 
where there were no visible means of ascent 
towards any of the heights, much less of con- 
veying materials for the astonishing work they 
completed, did the Greeks construct a citadel 
without a parallel in Europe, the result of their 
wealth, address, and enterprise. History does 
(l) Some curious memorials of this remarkable citadel ( Mankoop ) 
are found in Brmiovius , who describes it as, “ Arx et civitas quondam 
antiquissima.” He also says, “ Mancopia civitas ad montes et sylvas 
magis porrecta, et mari non jam propinciua cst ; arccs duas in altis- 
simo saxo et peramplu conditas, templa Grteea sumptuosa et ffides, &c. 
habuit Ac in eo monte saxoso, in quo sita est, in saxo miro 
admodutH 
