ASIA MINOR. This rich, outlying por tion of Asia, often designated Natolia or Ana-. tolia by geographers, contains many mines ; but the mining operations are not conducted with much skill. There are copper mines near Bakir-Kurelisl, not far from the Black Sea ; near Chalivar, on the eastern side of the Lazian group ; near TirebOli, on tho Black Sea; near Tatat, and many other places. There are iron mines near Unieh, on the Black Sea; silver with copper, in the mines of TirebOli ; silver and lead at Denek, in the Begrek-High, east of the Kizil-Irralk. Nitre is got at Karl Bantu', in the south-eastern part of the central table-land. Rock salt abounds in all parts, especially in the north eastern part of Asia Minor and in the tract round Angora. Hot springs occur in all the provinces ; those of Briisa are celebrated, and are even visited by European patients.
The northern shores of Asia Minor are covered with magnificent forest trees of vari ous kinds. The forests, stretching west from Boli, the great and almost inexhaustible source of supply to the Turkish navy, contain ash, elm, plane, poplar, larch, and beech, and some oaks of large size. It is known to the Turks by the significant name of Agatch Deynis, or Sea of Trees. The mountains of Karamania arc in general well wooded, and Alexandria is mainly supplied with fuel from them. The timber of this coast, at least that near the shore, is chiefly pine, but not in gene. ral of large dimensions. The mountains of Taurus a great variety of forest trees and shrubs.
No road, in the European acceptation of the tern], has ever existed of their own con struction in the empire of the Turks. Asia Minor still presents remains of the Roman lines of communication ; and of the Roman bridges many yet are in use. Relays of post horses are still maintained by the Turks at distant intervals. They are principally sta tioned at the largetowns of the leading routes. The most frequented road is that from Smyrna to Constantinople, and the only one by which there is a regular communication, except by caravans. Important as is the trade between these great cities and the rest of Europe, this correspondence takes place but twice a month, and is managed by the Austrian mission and consulate, which, as well as the Russian, despatch, at stated periods, a post to the Eu ropean capitals. The Porte keeps in constant a corps of Tatar couriers, by means of whom they make all their commu nications. On a smaller scale every pasha has a similar establishment. The route from Smyrna to Constantinople passes by way of Magnesia, Thyatira, and Monkalitsch. Another "route extends from Constantinople to the southern Pashalilts. It goes by way of Mu danieh, Brusa, the Olympus range, Kutaya, Afium-Kara-Hissar, Konieh, Karaman, and Guinan A third route advancing in the same direction from the Bosporus, at Esld shehr pursues an exact eastern course, and reaches Angora, whence two routes branch off.