ARZ-ROUM TO AMASIA. 
327 
since our arrival at Arz-roum. The weather then cleared up towards 
the close of the evening, and a fine morning with an almost cloudless 
sky opened the following day. 
On the 23d, we left Purtun ; and retraced the route of the pre« 
ceding day for two miles and a half, when we took a general Westerly 
direction for twenty-four miles. Our road was carried through a long 
chain of mountains, in a line of easy access, though the surface was 
rendered difficult by the mud which the rains had made. The whole 
soil was an admirably rich earth, producing the greatest luxuriance of 
grass, wild herbs, and flowers. Here and there the country begun to 
be wooded; and to be intersected by a great profusion of streams; 
and in one particular view (about two miles from our stage) displayed 
the most romantic scenery with fine wild precipices washed by the 
waters below, and shaded by shrubs and pine trees. The neighbouring 
district however, in consequence of the depredations of the Delhis , and 
the recent incursions of the Courds , was entirely unpeopled; and 
we learnt that the village of Mama Khatoun , at which we intended 
to take up our quarters for the night, was in the same manner 
deserted. 
From the eminence above we enjoyed a beautiful prospect; a river, 
swoln by the rains and melted snows, poured from the mountains on 
the S. E. and meandered at the foot of two stupendous rocks; and 
the large buildings from which the place derived its name, were 
below us. They are close to the village, and consist of a caravanserai , 
a mosque, a bath, and a tomb, all constructed with a fine white free 
stone, and finished in a manner worthy of the best ages. The caravan » 
serai, in the usual shape of such buildings, is a hollow square, with a 
gate to the East. Round the court are built small rooms, all arched 
in the most solid and magnificent style. There are also two vaulted 
chambers, each fifty yards long by forty broad, for the accommodation 
of the cattle of travellers. In the middle of the square is an arched 
chamber, erected probably as a cool retreat in summer. Though 
many parts of the building are falling into ruin, the caravanserai may 
