716 
OSMANJEK, ANCIENT PIMOL1S. 
several of these wooden pillars, sufficient of their purpose had 
been effected, to render the prop insecure, yet the indolence of 
those who ought to attend to the pass, has taken no pains to 
replace them with others. The glen finally opened into a rich 
valley, clothed with fine wood, vineyards, and considerable hus¬ 
bandry ; over which we continued our usual direction for three 
hours, bringing us to our next halting-place. It was then 
five o’clock, and we had ridden about thirty-six miles ; but the 
distance is computed at nine hours. This town, now bearing 
the name Osmanjek, is supposed by D’Anville to have been the 
ancient Pimolis ; and its situation and general appearance sup¬ 
port the idea. The present town covers the south-western face 
of an enormous insulated height, standing in the midst of the 
valley ; while its summit is crowned with the remains of an 
extensive fortress, very answerable to the description of Strabo, 
in writing of this part of Cappadocia. Several straggling dwel¬ 
lings are seen higher up the rock than the usual line of streets; 
they mingle picturesquely with the decaying towers, and are 
inhabited by the town’s-people. The strip of road we passed 
along immediately previous to our entry, is the only separation 
between the base of the height and the edge of the river, now 
called Kizzil Irmak, from its thick and yellow waters; but for¬ 
merly it bore the classic name of Halvs, the well-known boun¬ 
dary that marked Paphlagonia to the east. It is crossed at this 
place by a noble stone bridge of fifteen arches, and in length 
upwards of 300 feet. Badjazet II. has the honour attributed to 
him of having been its founder, but I should think it the archi¬ 
tecture ol a much more ancient period. The whole appearance 
of the vale is very singular, being in parts perfectly champaign 
and abundantly cultivated, though near the town barren of trees, 
