CHAPTER XXI.
THE HEART OF ASIA MINOR.
Scenery of the Hills — Ladik, the Ancient Laodicea — The Plague of G ad-Flies — Camp at Ilgün — A Natural Warm Bath — The Gad-Flies Again — A Summt.r Landscape — Ak-Sheher — The Base of Sultan Dagh — The Fountain of Midas — A Drowsy Journey — The Town of Bolawadün.
"By the forests, lakes, and fountains,
Though the many-folded mountains."
Our men brought all the beasts into the court-yard of the khan at Konia, the evening before our departure, so that no more were stolen during the night. The oda-bashi, indefatigable to the last in his attention to us, not only helped load the mules, but accompanied us some distance on our way. All the merchants in the khan collected in the gallery to see us start, and we made our exit in some state. The morning was clear, fresh, and delightful. Turning away from the city walls, we soon emerged from the lines of fruit-trees and interminable fields of tomb-stones, and came out upon the great bare plain of Karamania. A ride of three hours brought us to a long, sloping hill, which gave us a view of the whole plain, and its circuit of mountains. A dark Hue in the distance marked the gardens of Konia. On the right, near the centre of the plain,
12
