EUROPEAN ENGINEERS EMPLOYED. 127

creasing the article itself worthless, and that the whole district would soon be scratched over and abandoned, the Turkish government determined to employ capital, and to engage proper men to direct its expenditure.

Their early attempts in this direction were desultory and expensive, and produced no results. In the first case the locality selected was, it is said, the worst possible (Amasserah), and the capabilities of the Belgian engineers, at least, doubtful. In the second attempt, which was not long persisted in, the cause of failure was different, and arose chiefly from the supineness of the government. The third is proverbially 'catching time,' but it is curious and instructive that the first ton of coal ever worked under an improved system, was extracted by the present managers, at the end of 1851, four years after the first European engineers were employed by the Porte.

Mr. Barkley attributes their success, in a great measure, to the support of Fethi Ahmed Pasha, a brother-in-law of the Sultan, and Halil Pasha, of Tophanné, who exerted themselves (having suggested the last attempt) at

Constantinople on their behalf, in obtaining supplies for them, and in stimulating the flagging energies of the successive ministers, on those occasions when the managers themselves were unable to influence them. In this country business relations vary from our English notions, and the engineer here urges the minister, not the minister the engineer.

CHAPTER X.

ZUNGELDEK VALLEY.

July 9th.-RODE out with Mr. Barkley over

the mountain, to the valley of Zungeldek, and

went on board the Oscar.

Another steamer

The distance is

was coaling also in the bay. about four miles and a half by land, and two and a half by water; and the road, after you leave the tramway at Kosloo, is a mere muletrack over the mountains and through the forest; for the mountains are covered with high trees and dense brushwood right up to their tops. I saw growing, oak, beech, plane, walnut, cherry, apple, rhododendron, bay,

VOL. II.

K

myrtle, medlar, juniper, &c., all wild. The road is steep up and down like the wall of a house, for this country is nothing but narrow valleys, enclosed in mountains; and it is impossible to go any distance without having to climb a very steep hill, and walking is almost out of the question.

Barkley hardly ever goes out on foot, and the horses of the country are as sure-footed as mules. The horse he rode was a very handsome dun, and has a great reputation among the Turks, who are very fond of horses. He bought it before the war in the time of the old prices, and gave what was then considered a very long price, but which now would be thought absurdly cheap. It is certainly a perfect hack, spirited, handsome, gentle, and strong, but the noisiest brute in the world.

It is a most beautiful country, but perfectly wild, except in the valleys, which are cultivated, and unhealthy, from the malaria which is caused in such places in this country by the decay of the profuse vegetation.

There are no roads, and Barkley says that the forest is just the same for fifty miles inland.

A TRAM-ROAD WANTED.

131

Along the valley of Kosloo there is a tramroad for nearly two miles; but at Zungeldek, and down the sides of the Kosloo mountain, the coal is all brought down in panniers on the backs of mules. Occasionally bullock arabas are used at Zungeldek, but the shaking bruises the coal very much, and causes a great waste. Now all the bullocks are employed in dragging timber from the forests to Bartin, further up the coast, to supply the Turkish government arsenal, and cannot be spared for the arabas.

I saw quite enough to be sure that a great deal more coal might be shipped if a tram-road was used at Zungeldek also. Now, mules only are employed, which are hired and sought for everywhere within a distance of from sixty to eighty miles, without being found in sufficient numbers. Great demand for these animals exists for other purposes, and the competition. between the English and Turkish authorities to obtain them has been very keen-money being the inducement offered by the one, and the terror of their displeasure being employed by the other. The English have proved, in