696 
COUNTRY OF THE AMAZONS. 
height; and since our descent I had ample leisure to view them 
from the base. They consist of several massy octagon and 
quadrangular towers ; which, together with their adjoining walls, 
prove its former strength and consequence; and must have com¬ 
pletely commanded this passage into the eastern country, other¬ 
wise the most accessible of any leading from the Persian frontier in 
this direction. This whole district is under the jurisdiction of 
the Pasha of Trebizond. Another marine town, besides that 
long-celebrated port of the Black Sea, lies more to the westward 
on the same coast, and is called Samsoon. It is distant from our 
present halting-place five marches, the route being as follows : 
From Koyla-Hissar to Armani, twelve hours. 
From Armani to Nicksar, six hours. 
From Nicksar to Harrack, six hours. 
The river Kersawnboor (or Thermodon) is crossed in the road 
between these two latter places, by a fine bridge called that of 
the Unbelievers, or Kafri-kupri. 
From Harrack to Laddick, is ten hours. 
From Laddick to Kabback, ten hours. 
From Kabback to Samsoon, eight hours. 
It has been said by the ancients, that the country of the 
Amazons lay on this shore, comprising a vast tract called the 
plain of Themiscyra, between the rivers Kersawnboor or Thermo¬ 
don, and the Yekil-Irmak, or Iris, which pour their waters into 
the gulf of Samsoon. The town of Samsoon is held in consider- 
able respect. It contains many well-built houses, seven mosques* 
one Armenian church, and a population of 500 Mahomedan 
families, and 200 of Christians. The vicinity has long been 
noted for its silver and copper mines; two of which, lying be¬ 
tween Samsoon and Kabback and near the river Saray-Gour- 
