CHAPTER XVIII.
THE PASS OF MOUNT TAURUS.
We enter the Taurus — Turcomans — Forest Scenery — the Palace of Pan — Khan Mezarluk — Morning among the Mountains — The Gorge of the Cydnus — The Crag of the Fortress — The Cilician Gate — Deserted Forts — A Sublime Landscape — The Gorge of the Sihoon — The Second Gate — Camp in the Defile — Sunrise — Journey up the Sihoon — A Change of Scenery — A Pastoral Valley — Kolü Kushla — A Deserted Khan — A Guest in Ramazan — Flowers — The Plain of Karamania — Barren HiUs — The Town of Eregli — The Hadji again.
"Lo! where the pass expands
Its stony jaws, the abrupt mountain breaks,
And seems, with its accumulated crags,
To overhang the world."
Shelley.
Ereqli, in Karamania, June 22, 1852.
Striking our tent in the gardens of Tarsus, we again crossed the Cydnus, and took a northern course across the plain. The long line of Taurus rose before us, seemingly divided into four successive ranges, the highest of which was folded in clouds; only the long streaks of snow, filling the ravines, being visible. The outlines of these ranges were very fine, the waving line of the summits cut here and there by precipitous gorges — the gateways of rivers that came down to the plain. In about two hours, we entered the lower hills. They are barren aud stony, with a white, chalky soil; but the valleys were filled with myrtle, oleander, and lauristinus in bloom, and lavender grew
