'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1865 to December 1867. (Edited by the Honorary Secretary.) Volume XVIII.' [‎24] (159/268)

24
OVERLAND JOURNEY FROM
I observe that the population of Kharput is estimated at 1,720 families,
This would not, of course, include Mazra, a place which resembles in the
distance an Indian cantonment rather than a common Asiatic Turkish
town. Besides the Pacha’s residence and Telegraph Office, it contains
also the c Kishla,’ or barracks for troops. The productions of the soil
in the plains here are abundant, and the numerous villages seem rich and
flourishing. The bazaars in Kharput are not remarkable. The
Amerians are the bulk of the Christian inhabitants. Schools have
been opened by the American missionaries, who have also a chapel for
the Protestant congregation.
32. We descended into the plains on which Sivas is situated, from
a considerable height, crossed a bridge
Sivas * over the Kizzil Xrmak, built by Sultan
Murad, and entered the city. Its aspect from without is pleasing.
Dotted here and there with trees, at times in large extended clusters
the houses and citadel occupy a considerable space, and are much scat
tered. Dr. West, the American physician resident here with the mis
sionaries, a gentleman of unusual experience in these parts, reckons the
population at about 40,000 to 50,000 souls, and the Armenians to have
more than 2,000 houses, which might represent a fifth part of the
whole. The climate is delightful in the hot weather. We were here
in the middle of July, and the thermometer was 78°. There are many
interesting monuments at Sivas. We visited what are called (generally)
the tombs of the Seljuki. Germanize the pronunciation and we
may read ‘ Seleucidae, 5 according to Mr. Latham’s ingenious and not
unlikely theory. These are truly fine buildings, but from the inscrip,
tions appear to have been erected at no earlier date than 670 of the
Hejra, about a.d. 1271-2. The actual tombs may, I think, be trace
able to an earlier period. They are stated to be those of Kai Khosrou
and Kai Kobad, but the inscriptions above the door gave, so far as I
could decipher, Kai Khosrou only ; and may not this be a mere title?
The main buildings are two quadrangles, one facing the other, in a
narrow street, with remarkably fine gates, the largest of which may be
seventy feet in height, with two cupolas or minars of forty feet. There
is another building of a similar kind at a little distance, but all
seem to have been comprised within one set of strong stone walls, pro
bably the ar.cient Sebaste. The one quadrangle contains the Medresseh
and Turbet, the other may have been the mosque. Sivas was nn*