CHAPTER VI.

THE SAVROON AND SOMBAZ RIVERS. ROCK FORTRESS OF ANAZARBA AND SIS.

Churning and Bread-making—Threshing Machine—Fort of Hemita—Windlass at the Ferry—Fords on the Savroon—The Sombaz—The Present Owner of Anazarba—Low Price of Land—Arslan’s House—System of Cultivation—Double Wall (ancient) with Towers—Earthquakes which had Destroyed the Town—Arch of Triumph—Theatre—Stadium—Three ancient Aqueducts—Ascent to the Fortress—Church and place of Burial of the Roupenian Thakavors of Armenia (Minor)—Inner Enceinte of Fortress inaccessible—Inscription on Rock outside the City Gate—Turkman Camp—Beauty of the Approach to Sis—The Khan—Carelessness of Orientals as to Personal Conveniences—Church of the Patriarchate—Shrines—Coronation Chair of the Armenian Kings—Bells—Fortress almost Impregnable in Middle Ages—Captured by Muslims of Egypt—Intense Heat of the Plain—No Trees, scarcely even Bushes on it—Bivouac—Suspicious Visitors—Method of tethering Horses to prevent Theft—A slight Mistake—A Day of “Thunder, Lightning, (Hail, and) Rain”—Miserable State of the People in such a Season—Our Greek Interpreter abandons us—Fashionable Resorts of the Adaniots 136-164