JBO'C's Historical Reference

Arabgir, Sivas, Turkey

Arabgir, Sivas, Turkey

ARABGIR, a town of Asia Minor, in the pashalik of Sivas, is situated on an elevated plateau between the Go'l- Dagh and Sari-Chi-Chak branches of the Anti-Taurus [Anatolia] ; at a distance of 16 miles N.W. from the junction of the Kara-Su and Murad-Su, on the caravan route from Aleppo to Trebizond, from which places respectively it is distant 270 and 198 miles. It is built amidst a forest of fruit- trees, among which the White Mulberry is most common. The fruit of the mulberry is eaten fresh, or used for making brandy, or it is made into a sweetmeat called Petmez, which is common all through Armenia. The soil in the neighborhood where it is free from rocks yields fine crops of wheat The climate is cold in winter, and much snow falls. The town contains 4800 Turkish and 1200 Armenian families. A few years ago the Armenian population had 1000 hand-looms at work, weaving cotton goods from British yarn. This industry and the caravan trade rendered Arabgir a thriving place. In the surrounding highlands, which are bare and barren, iron-ore is abundant ; and near the spot where the above-named two rivers meet and form the Euphrates, are the lead and copper-mines of Kaben-Maden. (Royal Geographical Journal.)

THE SECOND SUPPLEMENT TO THE PENNY CYCLOPAEDIA OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE DIFFUSION OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE. COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY KNIGHT & CO., 90, FLEET STREET. MDCCCLVIII.

Barry O'Connell's Notes Index and Home Page