IV.]

RIVER APSARUS (TCIIORÚK-SÚ).

189

into which the river that served for a boundary between the two nations, and which the Greeks were to pass, emptied itself. It is evident from this description that the second or large river which they had to cross was the boundary river between the two nations, but that before reaching it they had an eminence or cliff on the right, and on the left another and smaller river, and this I am inclined, consequently, not to consider as the Marsáh Derch and Bálá-hór branches of the Tchórúk-sú, but as some minor branch flowing to the east of Baïbúrt from the Kóp Tágh into the Tchórúk-ṣú, which is not yet delineated in our maps, although I believe my friend Mr. Thomson, of the Persian embassy, has lately explored the valley of the ancient Apsarus.

The Greeks cut down the trees which grew on the river-banks to prepare a way for their passage, but were opposed by the Macronians, until one of their party came forward as acquainted with the language, and being himself a Macronian, although formerly a slave at Athens, and who informed his countrymen that the Greeks did. not come to invade the country, but merely to seek a passago on their way to the sea. Upon this the Macrones and the Greeks exchanged spears, as a mutual pledge of faith, and they became friends.

The Macronians are said by Strabo to have been originally called Sanni. Apollonius and Avienus notice them as above the Philyres. Pliny describes them as dwelling on the river Absarus. This river, the Apsarus of Arrian, and Apsorus of Ptolemy, is admitted on all hands to be the same as the river of 'Isperá (from Apsarus) or the Tchórúk-sú; so that this fact lends strong corroborative testimony to the position of Theches, on the inland chain of the Kóp Tágh, or Paryadres, above the Apsarus, and of the position of the Greeks when on the frontiers of the country of the Macrones.

The Macronians having made peace with the Greeks, supplied them with a market in the best manner they were

190

INTOXICATING HONEY.

[Воок

able, and conducted them through their country during three days, till they brought them to the mountains of the Colchians; but part of the first day's march having been expended in reaching and effecting the passage of the river Apsarus (Tchórúk-su), only two marches, and part of a third, which we may average at about twenty-five miles, were occupied in reaching the mountains of the Colchians, which correspond to the maritime chain, or that of Kárá Kapán, or Kóhát Tágh, of some, and the Colchian range of geographers, One of these mountains was very large, but not inacessible. And upon this the Colchians stood in order of battle. By Xenophon's advice the Greeks were on this occasion (some parts of the mountain being more difficult than others) divided into companies, and drawn up in columns, and thus they marched upon the enemy, who, separating, to oppose them to the right and left, were thus divided, and soon defeated, and the Greeks having gained the ascent, they encamped in many villages, full of all sorts of provisions. The Colchians, according to Strabo and Ptolemy, occupied that part of the coast of the Euxine which extended from Trapezus to the Phasis.

In these villages it happened that there was much honey, but all the soldiers who ate of it lost their senses, and were seized with vomiting and purging, none of them being able to stand upon their legs. Those who ate but little were like men very drunk, and those who ate much like mad-men, and some like dying persons. In this condition great numbers lay upon the ground, as if there had been a defeat, and the sorrow was general. The next day none of them died, but recovered their senses about the same time they were seized; and the third and fourth day they got up as if they had taken physic.

This fact of the honey of Asia Minor being in certain places and at certain seasons of a poisonous nature, was known to all antiquity, and is very common in the present day; so much so, that I have known the peasants enquire if we would prefer the bitter or the sweet honey, for the

IV.]

ARRIVE AT TREBIZOND.

191

honey so qualified has a slightly but not unpleasant bitterness, and is preferred by many, from producing, when taken in moderate quantities, the effect of slight intoxication. Pliny notices two kinds of honey (Nat. Hist. xxI. c. 44. 13), one found at Heraclea in Pontus, and another amongst the Sanni, or Macrones. The first he supposed to be produced by a plant called Ægolethron, or goat's-bane, the second by a species of rhododendron. Dioscorides, Diodorus Siculus, and Aristotle, all notice the honey of Heraclea Pontica. The celebrated botanist, Tournefort, ascertained on the spot that the honey of bees feeding on the Azalea pontica, which he described as the Chamærhododendron pontica maxima, flore luteo, as also on the Rhododendron ponticum, which he describes as the Chamærhododendron pontica maxima, flore cæruleo purpurascente, possessed mischievous properties. But as the bitter and intoxicating honey is met with in many parts of Asia Minor, where these plants do not flower, it is also extremely probable that these peculiar properties are further derived from the flower of the Nerium oleander, or common roselaurel, the leaves of which are known to be acrid and poisonous. The natural family to which the rose-laurel belongs (Apocynæ) is distinguished by plants endued with dangerous and fatal properties, and these juices act on the nerves so as to produce stupefaction. The Rhodoraceæ also possess narcotic properties, but in a less marked degree.

From the villages of the Colchians the Greeks made in two days' march twenty-one miles, and arrived at the sea at Trebizond' (Tarábuzún), a Greek city, well inhabited, and situate upon the Euxine. It was then a colony of Sinopians, but lay in the country of the Col

Rennell says of Trebizond, 'It derives its historical fame more from the circumstance of its receiving the ten thousand after their wonderful retreat, than from having been the

:

capital of portion of the Lower Empire since the former event fills the mind with ideas of a more lofty and magnificent kind.

192 ANOTHER VERSION OF THE MARCH. [Book IV.]

chians. Here they staid about thirty days, encamping in the villages of the Colchians, and from whence they made excursions into their country, for the purpose of plunder. The inhabitants of Trebizond supplied them with a market in their camp, and received them with great hospitality, making them presents of oxen, barley-meal, and wine; they also concluded a treaty with them in favour of the neighbouring Colchians, and from these also the Greeks received more oxen, as a mark of their hospitality. After this, they prepared the sacrifice they had vowed, and they also celebrated a Gymnic gamo upon the mountain where they were encamped.

It only remains to add to this book, that another version of the movements of the Greeks in upper Armenia and Georgia is just possible. It is founded upon the existence, first pointed out to me by Mr. Thomson, of a site on the Euxine, and considerably to the east of the actual Trebizond, called by the natives Eskí Tarábuzún, or old Trebizond. If this was the site of Trapezus in the time of Xenophon, it is just possible, that after crossing the Harpasus, the Greeks went on to the present site of Kárs, that they returned thence and recrossed the 'Arpá-chaï (which involves a difficulty) to Gumrí (Gymnías), and that thence they went direct to the old Trebizond; the Holy Mountain being in the chain situated between the sources of the 'Arpá-chaï and the Tchórúksú; the rivers of the Macrones being the Apsarus and the tributary to that river which flows into it above Atvín, and the mountains of the Colchians being in the district of Lazistán.

END OF BOOK FOURTH.

BOOK FIFTH.

rasunt.

Origin of Greek Colonies on the Euxine. Antiquities of Trebizond. Collect Ships of Transport. Attack upon Drillians. Plunder of their City. Greeks start by land and water. Colony of KeKérasún Dereh-sú. Kerasunt (Pharnacia). Introduction of Cherries. Country of Mosynæcians. Capture of their Metropolis. Turrets of the Mosynæcians. Chalybians, grubbers of iron. Country of Tibarenians. Cotyora (Pershembah). Inhospitality of Cotyorans. Ambassadors from Sinope. Discussion as to future Road to be followed. Xenophon's project of founding a City. Defeated by the opposition of Timasion and Thorax. Their proposal to found a Colony on the Phasis. Anger of the Soldiers. Xenophon pacifies them by proposing a Trial of the Generals. Philesius and others fined. Xenophon accused, but is acquitted.