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70 CONSTANTINOPLE AND ITS ENVIRONS ;
force, and most laborious exertions, the largest and most ponderous ships of the Black sea
are thus dragged up the descent, with a bodily strength and perseverance which a Turkish
hammal alone can exert. When the lighter caique arrives, it ascends with little labour
The passenger then wraps a few paras in a morsel of paper, throws them ashore to the
robust assistants, the tow is thrown off, and the light caique, now arrived at the summit,
shoots on its way. The introduction of steam-boats was opposed, as depriving so manv
persons of a means of support, but they are now used for larger vessels, and partly
abridge this painful toil.
THE REMAINS OF HIERAPOLIS.
ASIA MINOR.
Hierapolis, or " the Sacred City," stands on the confines of ancient Caria and Lydia,
in Asia Minor, and a few miles from Laodicea. It is now called Pambouk kalesi, the first
part of the name signifies "cotton," from a very singular phenomenon. On approaching
the place, the traveller sees before him the sloping face of a hill, of a pure white, and apparently fleecy texture, swelling into little eminences, and resembling a mass of wool laid
upon the surface, and as if slightly agitated by the wind. The soil abounds with hot springs,
and this singular appearance is a pure white concrete substance, generated by the water
flowing over the steep, and leaving behind a chalky deposit. On being tested with acids, it is
found to ferment; and like the dropping-well at Knaresborough, and from the same cause,
leaving behind it an incrustated surface of carbonate of lime wherever it flows. The
abundance of this concrete deposit was so great formerly, that it performed the function of
Amphion's lyre, and raised spontaneous walls. The water was conducted round edifices
and enclosures, and the channels then became long fences of a single stone. When the
rill first drips over any surface, it leaves behind it a lurid appearance, resembling wet
salt, or half-dissolved snow. Several of the vineyards and gardens are now fenced with
this substance.
Over the summit of this chalky cliff appear the remains of Hierapolis. These consist
of the ruins of a stadium, and amphitheatre, which no ancient town, yet discovered,
has been without; they were the most indispensable, and the most permanently built.
The meanest as well as the most insignificant cities seem to have thought them necessary to their well-being. Mixed with these are numerous sarcophagi, with and without
covers; the whole occupying a space of one mile in length;and among the inscriptions
found are some celebrating this city for its hot springs, declaring it to be revered
over Asia for its salubrious rills. It was, therefore, dedicated to Apollo, who, with |
