730 
LAKE SABANJA. 
Having crossed the river, we rode along its banks for six miles, 
at which point we took a course N. 60° W., leaving the Saccaria 
to our left. Our road lay over a fine down-like plain, which 
brought us in about an hour to the south-eastern shore of the Lake 
Sabanja. The quarter we approached was romantically varied 
by high projecting clififs and trees ; sometimes the bold rock shot 
forward without any covering; at others, beautiful groves crowned 
its summit, or spread themselves down the cliffs, till their roots 
could no longer derive nourishment from the sand or shingles. 
The lake is completely circled by mountains, some of which, and 
those to the north particularly, exhibit the most sterile and 
rugged crags, starting up from the very verge of the water. It 
is said to be three hours and a-half in length, that is, ten miles ; 
and in width two. We rode along its southern margin for six 
miles, enjoying the most lovely scenery in a very fine morning, 
till we approached the picturesque little town of Sabanja, close 
to its banks. We had descried it at a short distance, by a parti¬ 
cularly elegant minaret rising from amidst the luxuriant wood 
which shaded the houses from our immediate view. At half-past 
ten we halted at our menzil; the distance is called eleven hours 
from Kandag ; the miles, I should say, are thirty. Here are nu¬ 
merous broken marble remains, from ancient dwellings or 
temples. Some are built into the walls of modern houses; and 
while the people were reloading our horses, I copied two Greek 
inscriptions, from marble fragments close to the post-house. 
APPIAN02 
A0IAA20T 
Z II5 Era 
MH 
XAIPEfE 
..H2 
API . . VAAMETEAOY 
IIAH1NOABX2NKH2A 
MEN02KAMATI2N 
•£YAAPXH2A2 < I>YAH 
10 .. r .. AONIAAO 
