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