ARZ-ROUM TO AM ASIA* 
344 
road, shaded here and there by the foliage of immense walnut-trees* 
The surrounding territory is very rich in corn, besides a number 
of enclosures abounding in fruit-trees of every description. We 
eat here, as at Carahissar , the largest and finest cherries that I 
ever saw. 
The Musselim of this place is appointed at Constantinople. The 
person, who at the time of our arrival filled the office, took no 
part in the quarrels of the chiefs, who were fighting all around him; 
and seemed indeed to care little about his own government. When 
it was announced to him that an Elchee from Persia was about 
visiting his town on the way to the presence of his sovereign, and 
required his good offices; he said, that the Elchee if he chose might 
take up his lodgings in a caravanserai; that he should have as many 
horses as he might want to convey him away; but as for the rest, 
he himself could do nothing more for us. We had hitherto experi¬ 
enced, in general, more hospitality, but we now accordingly took up 
our quarters in a caravanserai on the Maidan , and very conveniently 
lodged ourselves and cattle. 
6*th. Tocat is situated on the declivity of three hills, whose bases 
join. To the Westward it is overlooked by the ruins of a fort, so 
completely dilapidated, that its remains are scattered unconnectedly 
over the surface of the rock on which they stand. To the north is a 
large open spot or Maidan; on one side of which is an excellent 
caravanserai called the Vaivoda-Khan, and on the other, a very good 
and well-built mosque. In the centre of the town there is another 
mosque of equal beauty. The town is said to contain about twenty 
thousand houses, or one hundred thousand inhabitants. The bazars 
here are very numerous, and every thing common to Turkey and its 
wants seemed to be here in plenty. The Armenian merchants com¬ 
plained to us indeed of the great dearth of trade, and particularly 
of that part of it which is connected with the mines. Those mines, 
which are at Kebban , eight days journey from Tocat , and nearer to 
Malatia than to any other great town, produce, (besides silver which 
