Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 2.djvu/105

 Boundaries, Climate, and Natural Divksions. 89 2000 metres ; the greatest development is manifested on the south and east, many heights being 3000 metres ; whilst the Argseus and some peaks of the Taurus range reach the limit of perpetual snow. The Olympian group, whose culminating peak (Mysian Olympus) is seen from Constantinople, is more imposing by its broad masses and its ridges, clothed with dense forests which everywhere con- ceal the horizon, than by any great elevation. The ascent of any particular mountain is rendered exceedingly arduous, by the interlacing of branches and a deep sea of dry leaves, through which it is almost impossible to steer your course. The difficulty of communication is as great on the south, to the rear of Pamphylia and Cilicia ; for though the rocky wall is much reduced in thick- ness, many summits attain the region of perpetual snow, hence the narrow passes are closed to caravans during great part of the year. The mountain range of the Taurus can only be ascended by narrow paths winding up its rugged declivities. From its lofty edges torrents fall with rushing sound into deep ravines below. We say torrents advisedly; this region, with Caria, Lycia, Pamphylia, and Lower Cilicia, having no rivers deserving the name, except the Saros and the Pyramus, and they scarcely belong to Asia Minor. The latter, during part of its course, marks the frontier line on the south-east, and both have their sources in the mighty bulwarks which to the east build up the Anatolian plateau. The main watershed of Asia Minor is, as a matter of course, to the west, north, and north-west. The most important basin, at least that which has the longest course, is the Halys, Kizil-Irmak.^ It rises in the Sivas mountains, flows to the south-west, as if t6 carry its waters to the sea of Cyprus, but is met by the Argaeus, which causes it to fall back to the north and north-east, describing a vast concentric curve which embraces the whole of Cappadocia, finally entering the Black Sea between Sinope and Samsoum castle. Although the Halys is the longest of all the rivers of the peninsula, owing to excess of evaporation the liquid mass it rolls to the sea is inferior to that of the Sakaria. It is spanned by several bridges, and fordable almost to the sea edge. Nevertheless, when swollen by rain and the melting of snow, it rises to a great height, and inundates the country to a considerable extent, doing much damage to the bridges, which are frequently destroyed, so that during
 * Herodotus, i. 72.