acrossasiaminoro00chiluoft

168 ACEOSS ASIA MINOR OX FOOT
salutations and laughter, and the usual questions to
Mehmet of where he was from and whither going.
At the time when Csesarea and Sivas were flourishing
cities this road had an importance much greater
than it has now. Then it was also the chief route
between north and south. At present its value for
communication between the coasts has disappeared,
for the sea allows of an easier journey. Ottoman
mails between north and south, however, still use
it regularly, until the snow comes, and then they too
^o round by Constantinople. Owing to its slight
traiEc the road is in fair condition, although unmetalled
; the surface is dressed with gravel, and
traific and rain do the rest, and eventually provide
a track on which a bicvcle might travel. By this
road also troops are frequently marched between
Sivas and the Bagdad Railway at Eregli.