268 
Mr. C. G. Danford on the 
mands the defile of the Taurus known as the Cilician gates 
(Pylae Cilicise). Cannon and cannon-balls lay half imbedded 
in the ground, attempts to remove them having failed. The 
road is here along a valley, the north side of which is 
hounded by the Bulgar dagh, and the south by the rocky moun¬ 
tains of Anascha. The village of the same name is situated 
on the north face of the mountain overlooking the valley of 
the Sihoun. The elevation is about 4000 feet; and the views 
on all sides are very fine, especially to the north-east, where 
rise the rocky walls and peaks of the Ala dagh. The latter 
range is divided from the Anascha dagh by a branch of the 
Sihoun (Sants). On the opposite side of the valley only 
firs grow, and it has rather a burnt-up look; but on the 
Anascha mountains vegetation is much more luxuriant, and 
almost all the kinds of trees found in the Taurus are there 
represented. Conifers hold the chief place. The most abun¬ 
dant of these are “ kizil cham 33 (red fir, Finns laricio , Poir.) 
and the silvery harked “ ak cham 33 (white fir, P.fenzilii, Ant. 
et Key), which takes the place of the former at about 4000 
feet elevation. Clumps of “ eladin 93 (spruce, Abies cilicice) are 
pretty numerous; and higher up on the steep rocky slopes are 
the dark silent “ kartaran,” or cedar-woods. These, together 
with scattered stems of “ardytch” (Juniperus excelsa ), form 
the uppermost growth. This juniper is often of enormous size, 
some measured at Zehil having, at a yard above the ground, 
a circumference of more than 18 feet. The wood is of a red- 
brown colour, highly scented, and splits with great ease and 
smoothness. Two other smaller junipers are also common— 
the red-berried “ tikian ardytch 33 (J. rufescens) in the lower, 
and the strong-smelling juniper (J. fcetidissima ) in the upper 
elevations. 
Next in importance are the oaks, here in great variety, but 
very difficult to distinguish when devoid of leaves and fruit. 
At the opening of spring, flowers appear in wonderful profu¬ 
sion. Of Crocus, at least five kinds are common ; and other 
beautiful genera, such as Scilla , Bellevalia, Muscari, Hya- 
cinthus, and Xiphion, are well represented. 
We remained at Anascha from March 3rd to April 18th, 
