The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-19
Travel. In Asiatie Turkey.

Travels In AsiatIe Turkey.
Tho most timely and useful book Of travels
which has been published for some time is tho
| Ndrrattce Of a Journey from Bombay 10 The Dos
po,Tis by GRATTAN GEARY (lIarpers. The
author left Bombay In March. 1873. and reached
Stamboul Just after the total collapse OF tho
Turkish military power. The fact that at this
epoch all the Asiatc provinces had been drained
vi regular troops must. Of course be consd-
cred in weighing what Mr.. Geary has to say
regarding the insecurity Of travel. Under the
/ circumstances we are naturally surprised to
find his journey attended with less risk than
is likely to be encountered in n tour through
Sicily and Calabria. SO. too. his estimate OF the
fiscal burdens laid upon the Eastern subjects
OF the Porte should properly BIO qualified by the
reflection that special war taxes had lust been
levied. With these reservations. his account
Of the social and economical status, Of the
resources. actual and possible. OF the wide
regions lying between the Persian Gulf and
tho Mediterranean. will be found Of unusual
interest and value His route from Bassorah
60 Alexandretta conceded with one Of the pro-
posed lines Of railway which has been repeat
eddy mooted during the last decade by British
capitalists. and whose active prosecution Is
likely TO DO furthercd by this volume We do
not propose TO follow the order In which his
lively narrative is set down. but pursuing an
inverse course. to trace the line Of the projected
road from its western terminus opposite the
northeast angle Of Cyprus to BaGdad. the IA
nous seat Of tho Abassid Caliphate. We shall
avail ourselves however. OF the information
furnished by this intelligent eyewitness to
mark the size and importance OF the probable
stations. the character Of the population. and
tho productive capabilities OF the countries
traver-ed. SO as to arrive nj a clear notion Of tho
probable cost OF such n railway. and its value
as an investment. as well rs its strategi zeal
utility.
The best point OF departure. on the Levantnc
side for railway from the Mediterranean to
the Persian Gulf is TO some extent matter Of
controversy. But Mr.. Goary entert,ns no
doubt that the choice must ultimately fall upon
AlcXandrctta. for the great bay Of Scandcroon
is pronounced by competent authority entirely
safe whereas no other veritablc harbor exists
on tho Syrian coast. Beyrut. JANA. Latakia
e.. are only open roadstcads, and tho former
small seaport Of Antioch. the ancient Selcucia
is now choked up. and even II cleared out
would prove quite inadequate TO the require
ments o. modern trade. An objection 70 Alex
andrutta is the marsh fever. which. however.
might Doe cNtiruated by draining at an estimated
cost Of $4,000. From this port there is no DIM
Guilty in laying rails 10 the historic Gates Of
Syria. and the author ailrms this famous pass.
now known a. the Beilan. 70 ho an obstacle far
less considerable than is supposed. He found
thegradlcnts OF the roads which traversed il
by no means severe. and there seemed
TO be 10 necessity for costly tuuncing
Tho iron road might follow a deep gorge along
which may s,ll DO traced n Roman aqueduct,
but the modern town of Beian lies on u aoeat
shelf Of rock further up the clin Beian is n
great sanitarium FOR the well-;1-do inhabtant,
Of the coast. and the houses have some preten-
eli. !. IL.
species OF French restaurant. but this. with
the exception Of a hotel il. Aleppo. was the last
vestiRe OF tho Western cuisine. The eastern
slopes Of the Beilan arc very beautiful. and your
journey down them to the great Plain Of Anti
och Is like riding through a shrubbery stocked
on an immense scale. thousands Of rhoioden-
dron- in iul bloom being the most consp icuous
feature. On the skirts Of the broul
Antioch Valley you cross miles OF beau
Iilll green sward like an English meadow.
and on your LETT runs stone bridge
of many arches. though there is now no
Sign OF river The centre Of the plain is
a vast marsh II hideous bog u black rotten
ness, across which. however. a great stone
cauaeWay WAS carried 10y the Romans, some
traces of which exist Later on another cause
way was constructed 10y Sultan Murad much oi
which 10 preserved. and alons II Mr.. Geary
rode for several miles There ,s nothing, there
fore. IN tho famous Antioch boz 10 daunt an en-.
gIneor. tho rather that il is caster 10 carry
n railway arross swdmps than To carry a
road. owing doubtless tnthe weight ofthc traNlo
being moro equally d.nusad through the inter
position of rails and slecpcrs. Once across thl
plain the objective point is ofo urse Aoppo but
here chain OF hills rises up to block tho way
Yet within the last twelyemonth thrss have been
carefully surveyed, aud narrow though
somewhat tortuous pass has boen discovered Il