'Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia' [‎298] (313/360)

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SUJ—SUL
beautiful; it has very advantageously the sea forming a small and deep bav
surrounded by lofty mountains, the narrow entrance being formed by two
projecting headlands as a harbour; it possesses little value, the bottom of
the sea within it being so rocky that anchors have difficulty in holding. The
Bora or the north-cast wind frequently sets in with unexpected fury, and
strands the vessels with a fearful shock. There is a small fortress here. The
( ircassian name of the place is Terness; the Russian, Novorussiak.—
(r an rLaxthausen).
SlK-AS SHEKH—Lat. Long. Elev.
M t0 ( "ri ' a ' 1 e P ™T® e of Asiatic Turkey, the capital of the
Montefik Arabs, situated on the right bank of the Euphrates, 63 miles above
the junction of the ligns and 99 miles above Basra.
It is a walled town of considerable importance, containing 600 to 700
rami lies, according to Eraser, or 5,000 to 7,000 souls according to
U inch ester. Its appearance from a distance is rather neat and attractive
embosomed as it is in thick date groves, among which its houses are seen to
advantage, liut a nearer approach makes the deception apparent, it is
almost a mass of ruined houses, among which a few, still tenanted, contain
ic survivors from the plague which lately depopulated Baghdad, and which
(hd not spare the Montefik. Eraser said of all human communities he had
seen, he thought this the most filthy and abominable. It was almost impos-
sible to walk the streets without contamination; and the smell of the butchers ,
s iops rendered all approach to them impossible to civilised nostrils. The
ba^ar is rather extensive, but sparsely tenanted. Most of the shops were
ed with art'clcs su'ted for the Arabs alone,—spears, daggers, swords and
shields saddles, abbas tent-ropes, &c. There are plenty of grocers and
uggists; loaves of white sugar, coffee, and coarse spices were abundant
as well as the common articles of brown sugar from India, dates, soap, &c!
1 he hade oi this place is very considerable; the quantity of sugar, coffee,
drugs indigo, and all sorts of Indian produce which passes up the Euphrates
in spite ol all dangers and imposts, is surprising; and much of several'
ai tides, such as hinna, indigo, sugar, &c., go all the way to Damas
cus. 1 here really was somewhat of a bustle here. Dates are a great staple
riom iiasra and were sold at verv low prices.
Opposite the town the river is about 130 yards broad, 18 feet deep, with a
current of two knots an hour The channel is deep, with steep banks, not
mere than a couple of feet above the level of the stream, along which are
many gardens, well supplied with vegetables, fruit and other trees, &c.
yraser—Chesney—Imj. enal Gazetteer— Winchester.)
SILIMANABAD.—Lat. Long. Elev.
A village in Turkish Kurdistan, situated in a valley which is much celebrated
tor producmg fine fruit, especially grapes and water-melons. All the fruit of
Suhmama is brought from this place. The garden at this place was founded
by onliman Bebbeh, the celebrated ancestor of the Bebbeh family (Rich )
SULIMANIA.—Lat. Long. Elev
A town, capital of Turkish Kurdistan.
It is situated in a hollow about two miles from the foot of the east range
it ■ K u 18 l Whlcb l " lo P e . d o™ to it. and among these, in a sort of
may be abouTsO 0 yST* S ^Us are steep and bare; in height they