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WITH THE SEVEN CHI R< HEfl Of A8I v MINOR. 73
PASS IN THE BALKAN MOUNTAINS ON THE BULGARIAN >IDE.
The chain of the Balkans generally consists of three parallel ridges, having valleys
of exceeding beauty between them. But in some places on the north side, the lower
ridge Beema obliterated; the descent is very precipitous, and the face of the mountain,
tike a vast wall, descends almost perpendicularly to the plain below, uninterrupted by
any lesser eminence. This is particularly the case with the pass by Philippopoli and
Tatar Bazaar. When the traveller stands upon the summit-ridge, he sees the plain
Of Bulgaria baton him, extending its horizontal surface to the Danube, like the sea,
|0 what seems to him an interminable distance. The roads down this side are not only
steep, but dangerous, and frequent accidents happen to travellers from the abrupt and
Budden descent of the pass. Winding down the narrow defiles on a rugged path,
icarceh broad enough Ear one to pass ; when two meet going in an opposite direction, the
peril is awful. Neither can go back or turn aside, and one is often precipitated into the
gulf below. This danger is increased, and more frequently occurs, from trains of
horses laden with iron, the produce of mines found in the recesses of the mountains.
The horses travel in a single file, and bound to each other by cords. When one falls
over the edge of the precipice, he is generally supported by the rest of the train, till
he regains his path and footing. This precaution is taken by other travellers, but
Ige horses, from the greater weight and more unmanageable burdens, very often
are precipitated over the edge, and disappear into the gulf below, where they are suffered to lie, without am fruitless attempt to follow or regain the To obviate
such accidents, the Snrrogee, or Tartar janissary who attends the traveller, stops at
the entrance of a dangerous pass, and, drawing his pistols, discharges them into it
several times, waiting for some space for a reply. If one is returned in the same
manner, it intimates that the defile is already occupied by others, and the party wait
their issuing forth. If no return be made to the discharges, the\ pass on.
Our illustration represents a steep descent from the village of Intiman into the ravine
below, and, after fording the mountain-torrent in the bottom of the gulf, the equally
steep ascent on the other side. On climbing this, the plain o\' Bulgaria appears before
the traveller, from the summit, in all the luxuriance of verdure and fertility, and
leads him to Sophia, the ancient capital of Bulgaria, where the ashes of its kings
repose. |
