706 
SECOND DERBEND. 
Derbend, formed by a rent of only four feet wide in the natural 
mountain-wall of the rock, rising to a height of ninety feet at least. 
But for this mode of passage no egress would have been possible; 
and as it was, we found its zig-zag descent so completely dark, for 
a continuance of several hundred yards, from the immense depth 
and narrowness of the cut, that day-light appeared little more 
than a long grey line above our heads, and the chilling cold of 
the fissure made me feel rather aguish on emerging. From this 
defile we entered on the noble valley of Amassia, magnificent in 
the beauty of luxuriant gardens and groves embosoming the 
summer residences of the affluent of the city, and sublime from 
the stupendous scene on every side, of mountain and rock in 
all their vastest contours. From the darkened cliffs out of 
which we had issued, a voluminous stream of water burst also, 
pouring along its declining path for some way with an echoing 
noise, till reaching the flat ground, it soon disappeared amongst 
the various irrigating channels for the nearest gardens. At a 
former period it had been conveyed to the city by an aqueduct 
cut in the winding face of the mountain, the remains of which 
are yet visible, nay, indeed, hardly impaired at all, for an extent 
of five miles at least. The people of the country attribute the 
work to a hero of the chissel similar to the Ferhaud of Shirene, 
and say it was executed by an enamoured artist to obtain the 
hand of a beautiful daughter of one of the kings of Amassia. 
We reached the renowned capital of Cappadocia at two o’clock. 
The distance from our last post is estimated at twelve hours ; I 
should call it twenty-seven miles. 
The city stands in the narrowest part of the valley, and amid its 
boldest scenery ; the immediate vicinity being wildly romantic, 
while all beyond was of the most tremendous character. Along 
