HISTORY ETHNOGRAPHY NATURE WINE-MAKING SITE MAP
Selected and rare materials, excerpts and observations from ancient, medieval and contemporary authors, travelers and researchers about Cyprus.
 
 
 
 
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SIR SAMUEL WHITE BAKER
CYPRUS AS I SAW IT IN 1879
page 241

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precipitous ravine. Even Iiani kept awake, and prei sently I heard a faint exclamation from behind, and: upon turning round I discovered Lady Baker upon thcJ ground, the saddle having twisted beneath her mule ini descending a steep and rocky gulley ; fortunately shel fell upon the wall-side of the path, instead of upon thej edge of the precipice ; and she was unhurt. Although the route was abominable it was mose interesting. A s the drainage of the mountains was at right angles, we crossed a succession of heights which! afforded short glimpses of the sea some 600 feet be-1 neath, with the perpendicular rock-bound coast below " us, and then alternately descended into the depths ofthe intervening gullies. This peculiarity exhibited to " perfection the geological formation. W e had entered upon trap rocks and the greenstone, all of which showed j traces of copper. Notwithstanding the wild and dan-j gerous route, every available plot of ground was cultivated, although no villages were perceptible. The ! peasants carried their light ploughs upon donkeys from considerable distances, and with these exceedingly useful implements they ploughed inclines that would have been impossible to cultivate with any European implement except the hoe. At length we descended to ι the sea-beach, and marching through heavy sand for about a mile, we arrived at Pyrgos, our halting-place, twelve miles from Caravastasi. This is one of the wildest portions of Cyprus. I There is no village, but the position is simply marked by the presence of one building above the sea-beach, which has been a depot for the spars and poles of pine that have periodically been delivered from the mountains by the torrents, when heavy rains have swollen them sufficiently to enable them to force the

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