CARAMANIA, or CARAnAN-ILI, as it is called by the Turks, is a province of Asiatic Turkey, which stretches along that part of the Mediterranean which lies to the north of the island of Cyprus, and extends a little to the west of Cape Volpe, near the Isle of Rhodes. This province formerly comprehended the ancient coun tries of Pamphylia, Lycia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, Isauria, Ci licia, part of Phrygia, Galatia, and Capadocia. The part of the coast of Caraniania, which once formed Pamplrylia, is washed by very deep water, so that ships may approach Very near it, without the risk or running aground. The coast is in general elevated and dry, and is broken by nu merous intersections. The mountains behind the coast have a gloomy green appearance, and are covered with vast forests, which are either neglected or destroyed by the Turks. At the island of Castel Rosso, (the Roge of Pliny), there is an excellent harbour open to navigators ; but the depth of water within it is so great, that ships arc under the necessity of anchoring iu 60 or 80 fathoms. There is a fortified castle on the summit of the rock which forms this island. The part of the coast of Cara mania, from Castel Rosso to the entrance of the Gulf of Macri, is not so high as the coast to the eastward, but it is equally perpendicular, and it consists of a white and arid rock, and is divided by large ravines. The admira ble havens in the Gulf of 1\lacri, are sufficient for con taining- large fleets : Four of the havens which are most retired, are frequented by a few vessels during the win ter months, when the navigation of the Archipelago is dangerous. The crews were allowed to cut down the finest trees at no expellee, and without any interruption from the inhabitants ; and after refitting their vessels, they carried cargoes of wood to the ports where it brought the highest price. The immense variety of game and fish furnished them, at the same time, with plenty of food, and with numerous sources of amusement.
" If the wind has ever so little strength," says Son " the sea is always very high in the strait formed by Caraniania and the island of Rhodes. The waves rise there sometimes in a frightful manner; the currents, which, in a sea intersected by islands and projecting lands, vary and clash, are the cause of this extraordinary agitation, which is likewise increased by inconstant and irregular winds. Indeed, it frequently happens, that the wind is different in several parts of the same channel, and that, on one side, there reigns a flat calm, while, on the other, the winds blow with violence. Not only arc
the winds inconstant in these obstructed seas, but they arc here felt by sudden and impetuons squalls, which are followed and preceded by dead calms; and these violent gusts are sometimes announced by infallible signs.
Above the high mountains, of which the coast of Cara mania is for the most part formed, it is not uncommon, in clear weather, to sec a very small black cloud, fre quently no bigger in appearance than a bird. This globe of vapours is extremely agitated; at first very small, it spreads all on a sudden, contracts, appears, and disap pears, at intervals, above the mountains, and changes its form every instant. Ilow calm soever the atmosphere may be, a sudden and violent squall may be expected at the sight of these insulated clouds, which discharge the wind with so much rapidity and vehemence, that if a ship be not prepared for being overtaken by it, she runs a great risk of losing part of her sails, and even her masts and yards. On the 28th of October, we experienced one of these sudden squalls, after a calm which had kept the ship stationary abreast of Cape Crio, a large promontory of Caraniania. During this calm, a numerous shoal of fishes, cleaving the water level with its surface, and even darting above it, passed close to us with great rapidity; and the agitation of these inhabitants of the depths 01 the sea, is altiays a certain presage of an and violent agitation in the atmosphere and the waters A small cloud, the precursor oh' the storm, had made its appearance above the promontory ; it ex p411(kfl, and we were overtaken by a gale of wind, which eompelled us to take in all our sails, and continue lying-to (luring the whole night, tossed about by shut t and overgrown There are several lakes in Caramania which arc well stored with fish, and furnish salt in abundance. A great deal of silk is also pioduced here. Attalia, or situated upon a gulf of the same name, is the capital of the province. See Sonnoni's Travels in Greece and Tur key, Eng. edit. 4to. 1801, p. Chateaubriand's Travels in Greece', Palestine, &c. vol. ii. p. 227; and Views in Palestine and Caramania, from the original drawings of L. Mayer, with an Historical and Descrip tive Account of the Country, &c. London, 1801. (a)