After traversing the plain of Cæsarea this road reaches the marsh, which is a remnant of the lake formed by Ariarathes, king of Cappadocia, by damming the course of the river Melas, now called the Kara Su or Black Water. Some vestiges of that embankment are still visible at the mouth of the gorge through which it flows towards the Halys, and not towards the Euphrates, as erroneously stated by Strabo, when mentioning the breaking of the dam and consequent inundation of the lands of the Galatians in the direction of Phrygia, for which the king paid them 300 talents. Below the confluence of the dark waters of the Melas with the brackish stream of the Halys there is a very fine stone bridge of a single arch, called Tek Gheuz, or One-Eyed, which was built 4 centuries ago by Sultan Mohammed the Conqueror. A little farther down are the ruins of an ancient town with an acropolis, now bearing the name of Akala, and probably identical with Archelais, the description of whose site perfectly corresponds with this position.

Genezin, 11 h., is a large Turkish village of little interest, where there is no khan, but where the mudir will appoint a house to receive the traveller.

A ride over arid hills and bare valleys without water will soon bring him to

Bektash, 5 h., see Rte. 43. Mudjur, supposed to be the ancient Mocissus, is a large village, 4 h. further on, and 5 h. more over the same open and uninteresting country brings the traveller to the considerable town of

Kir Sheher, 9 h.

The population of this place is 27,000, of whom 6000 are dervishes and attendants of several large tekehs. The remainder are gardeners and carpet-makers, the whole valley being a series of gardens, and the staple commodity being very beautiful rugs. Excellent accommodation is to be found at the post-house.

Hamid, 8 h., is a village offering a good little khan to sleep at, after a dreary journey in a species of desert extending northwards from course of the Cappadox, on which Kir Sheher stands. This is a dangerous district, being generally the haunt of Kurdish and Turcoman robbers, but an escort can easily be obtained from the Kaimakam or governor of Kir Sheher.

Denek Maden, 4 h., is a small mining community on the hills, where the traveller will be well received by the director of the works. The smelting of silver in the open air is most primitive. Descending to the valley of the Halys, that river is forded near the large village of

Ak Shehan, 8 h., where the post- house is a good sleeping-place. Thence the road crosses the lofty Elmah Dagh, offering a rich field of study for the geologist in its broad metallic strata of deep brown, pale green, and black basaltic rocks. A long valley follows, and at its gorge is found the capital of Galatia,

Angora, celebrated for goats and cats, 12 h. See Rte. 52.