When I undertook in the months of August, September, and October, 1882, my last excursion into Asia Minor, my principal object was to explore some very little known districts in the northern part of that country. Of these Paphlagonia has hitherto been almost a blank on all critical maps, traversed only by two or three routes of Hamilton, Ainsworth, and Tchichatcheff which gave no hint whatever as to the configuration, the present condition, and the ancient remains of the province. The adjacent parts of Galatia, the inferior course of the Halys, the tract lying between this river and the Iris, the source and length of the famous Thermodon, had all likewise remained unexplored until the present day. No doubt their lack of historical interest must be held to account for their neglect by recent travellers. There were even some important points on the coast-line, such as Kytoros and Kinolis, which had not been visited since Tavernier, two centuries ago.

My starting point was Ineboli, the ancient Abonu teichos Paphlagoniae, lying about the centre of the northern coast of Asia Minor. Hence I explored, as far as was possible in the course of a rapid ride, the western half of the province as far as the river Parthenius. The mountainous character of the country proved very unfavourable for travelling. The mountains were crowded as it were very closely together, separated only by narrow ravines, while the ascents were of extraordinary steepness. Indeed the paths were on the whole far more difficult than I had met with before even in the Taurus of Pisidia and Cicilia.