Bitez is famous for a popular song named Çökertme composed in the early years of the 20th century. There are two versions of the event upon which the lyrics refer to. But in both versions, the main theme is the struggle against Regie Company founded for Ottoman Public Debt Administrationwhich controlled the tobacco trade in Turkey. The producers had no right to sell their own products. This gave rise to smuggler traffic and the smugglers began smuggling tobacco to Cos island ofGreece (the distance to Cos island is only 15 kilometres (9.3 mi)). According to lyrics, Bodrum governor (so called Cicassian governor, Çerkezkaymakam) arrested two smugglers named HalilEfe and İpramEfe in Bitez shore (Turkish: Bitez yalısı) and then executed them without trial. In another version of the story HalilEfe and his sweetheart were trying to escape to Cos island when they were arrested. The governor was furious because he had an eye on Halil’s sweetheart ÇakırGülsüm(Güssüm)
