'Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia' [‎275] (290/360)

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POT—RAB
were it desirable to attempt developing' the trade of this reg-ion, the best plan
would be to construct a road to Batum and make that the port for the
Khion.
The hotel at Poti consists of two low houses, very much like Indian
bungalows of the shabbiest description. {Monteith—Easiwick.)
PSCHAN.
A Georgian tribe. [Monteith.)
PUL-I-ZOHAB—Lat. Long. Elev.
A bridge in the Province of Baghdad, Asiatic Turkey, 142 miles from Baghdad
on the road to Kirmanshah. {Jones.)
PYRAMUS—Lat. Long. Elev.
A river of Adana, Asiatic Turkey, which falls into the Mediterranean. It
is navigable for small steamers to Misis and Ainzai bah.
R.
RABAN HORMAZ—Lat. Long. Elev.
A convent in the Pashalic of Musal, Asiatic Turkey, 45 miles north of Musal.
" The monks are dusky looking men, clothed in the coarsest manner, like
peasants, but more sombre in their colours; their gown being of a dark
blue or black canvas, with a common Abba or Arab cloak of brown woollen
over it. On their heads they wear a small skull-cap of brown felt, with a
black handkerchief tied round it. The priests are rather better clothed, in
black dresses, with black turbans on their heads. The monks are of all
trades,—weavers, tailors, smiths, carpenters and masons; so that the wants
of the convent are entirely supplied by the convent itself. Their wants ara
indeed very few, the order being that of St. Anthony and very rigorous in
its observances. The monks never eat meat, except at Christmas and Easter.
Sometimes, indeed, if any of their friends bring them a little as a present,
they are not forbidden to eat it, but no meat is provided for the convent.
'I he daily food is some boiled wheat and bread, and even this in small quan
tities. Wine and spirits are altogether prohibited, and none but the trea
surer is allowed to touch money.
" The monks live separately and alone in their cells when not employed
at their work, and are forbidden to talk to one another. A bell summons
them to Church several times a day, besides which they meet in the Church
at midnight for prayer, again at day-break, and at sun-set, when they each
retire to their cells without fire or candle. Some of these cells are far from
the others, in very lonely situations, high up the mountains, in steep places,
and look difficult to get at by day—how much more so in dark and stormy
nights! They are surrounded by wild plundering tribes of Kurds, who might
come down and murder them in their different retreats, without their cries
for help being heard; but their poverty preserves them from such attacks.
Young men among them retire here, when weary of the world and hoping to
find rest in this solitude and acceptance with God, through religious exer
cises of a painful and mortifying nature." [Rich.)