'Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia' [‎241] (256/360)

MAR
about 70 shops built around a quadrangle. Tbo village itself is on the top of
a hill half an hour distant from the bazaar whieh is situated on the banks of
the river. It was placed in this position to avoid the effects of the fever which
in the hot season prevails near the water. The shops of Maradit are supplied in
small quantities with almost every kind of European manufactures consumed
in these countries, as shawls, prints, calicoes, striped nankeens, and handker
chiefs. The shop-keepers usually purchase their goods at Tarabizun except
ing one or two of the most wealthy, who visit Constantinople once a year.
{Guarracino.)
MARAND—Lat. Long. Elev.
A village in Mingrelia, Georgia, Russia, on the left bank of the Rhion River,
60 miles above Poti, 24 miles from Kutais. The river is here 200 yards broad
and 8 feet deep, and very muddy and filthy. It is navigable as far as this for
small steamers, except in July and August, and for boats even higher.
[Easfwick.)
MARDIN—Lat. Long. Elev. 2,300.
A town in the Province of Diarbakr, Asiatic Turkey, 65 miles south-east of
the town of that name, and 161 miles from Musal. The prospect from
Mardin is one of the most striking that can well be conceived, not onlv from
the almost infinite extent of cultivation that has stretched out at its feet like a
map, from the numerous villages and hillocks with which they are studded
and which dwindle away on the distance to a mere mole-hill, but also from the
vast and almost boundless expanse of nearly level ground unbroken by trees
or rivers, and for the most part sinking gradually from sight to the utmost
verge of the horizon where everything is indistinct.
It is situated on the south side and not far from the top of one of the most
lofty mountains of the Mount Masius range, commanded by a castle which
crowns the summit of the rock. It is difficult of access. On the north
side it can only be approached by a narrow pathway which winds amidst
the rocks and precipices : on the south the road is somewhat better, but still
very steep, and about a mile and a half in length. Although in so elevated
a situation, it has within itself a plentiful supply of finest water: and as
the vine is cultivated with success in the recesses of the mountains, wine and
brandy are made by the Armenians in considerable quantities. The houses
are all built of fine hewn stone, and appear to be very old. The windows
are small and grated with iron, and from the position of the town on a
declivity, added to the narrowness of the streets, the buildings seem to rise
progressively, one on the top of the other. The population of Mardin
amounts to nearly 11,000 souls, of which 1,500 are Armenians and 200
Jews : the remainder are Turks, Arabs, and Jews. The Armenians have here
several churches and a patriarch. The walls of the city are kept in tolerable
repair, and a few old pieces of cannon are mounted on the towers of the
castle which is now in a very dilapidated state, and has never been completely
repaired since the place was taken by Timur. It was formerly the frontier
town of the Province of Baghdad towards Constantinople, and was under
the Government of a Musalim appointed by the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of that province,
but having rebelled about the year 1833 it was attached to the Province of
Diarbakr. [Kinneir—Alnsworth.)
MARGHAR SO—Lat. Long. Elev.
A river of the Province of Tarabizun, Asiatic Turkey, whieh falls into the
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