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.
 
 
 
 
uses Google technology and indexes only and selectively internet - libraries having books with free public access
 
  Previous
Next  

CLAUDE DELAVAL COBHAM
Exerpta Cypria
page 314

View PDF version of this page

a vellum paper-case that was in my pocket parched and shrivelled up with the heat, in a few minutes felt humid, and soft as my glove. From hence to the point are little plain spots interspersed with bushy hillocks, but altogether uninhabited. We returned through a variety of good and bad, beautiful and bleak grounds, until we arrived at the convent Canakarga; I shall only inform yon that it is built exactly according to the mode of the ancient Greek churches, which, you know, consisted of a uarthex, or porch, pronaos or outwai*d chapel, naos, body or nave, bema, the chancel, and thysiasterion, the altar. About three miles from hence we passed some rocks of talc, then descended into a delightful bottom, where stands the village of Rosala, surrounded with corn-fields, gardens, gentle swells, pretty tnfts of trees, and a natural fence of little hills. Half an honr farther we came to Komatongalou, which is prettily situated, and the fields are well laid out near the sea : it was once so extensive as to contain fourteen church es ; but now five-sixths of it lie in ruins, among which is the church of our Lady, where I found the following inscription upon a stone, accidentally laid on the four pillars of the altar-table. It is written in old French, like that which I sent yon from Dela-Pnys: I can read every letter, and many words I under-stand ; but I cannot oblige you with an explanation of the whole, which I therefore leave to your own investigation. Ici . GIST . DAME . MARGVERITE . DE . BOVI)APR E . RSPOVSB . QTI . FVT . DE . MESSIRE . ANTOINE . DE . GKBELIX . LAQVELLE . TRERPASSA . A . XXX . IORH . D'OCTOBRE . L'AN . MCCCXXII1I . DE . CHRIST . Through a number of delightful spots we came to Famagosta ; and from Castro, where there are still cisterns, with the remains of a town aud fort upon a little hill, I traced a cause-way, made iu the Roman manner, the whole way to Sala mis, where we lost it fur a while, and found it again, proceeding almost as far as the garrison, which we reached at noon, baring travelled nbove nine hours that morning, with intention to stroll about the city after dinner. Bnt the silly people of the country, being alarmed at my taking notes and making sketches, and especially at my looking often upon my compass, which they took to be a sort of divina-tion, began to imagine we were people sent to reconnoitre proper places for descents, and observe where their greatest strength or weakness lay. These notions are circulated with incredible rapidity; and, like snow-balls, gather as they roll along: nay, they produced such a clamour at Ceriuia, that the Cadi sent a message, desiring to know our business, and whither we were going. Our answer to this impertinent address, was, that we were in search of our pleasures, and he had no business to ask what they were This wise magistrate was weak enough to inform the muhassil, that we were employed, by the Venetians, as spies; and that we had made drawings of the harbour, town and castle: in consequence of this impeachment, the muhassil sent for Signor Crutta, chief dragoman to the British nation, who happened to be at Nicosia, and questioned him touching this important matter ; which Mr Crutta explained so much to his satisfaction, that he could nut help laughing at the officious fool who had sent snch intimation. Besides this accusation, we were exposed to other dangers; for people were actually sent to way-lay us; but one of them, having more consideration than his fellows, diverted them from their purpose, by representing that we .were British subjects and friends to the government These circumstances, simple though 304 EXCERPTA CYPRIA.

View PDF version of this page


  Previous First Next