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 205

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to the water's edge, shadow the rocky coves, and clothe the surface to the base of the mountains, whilst at a short distance from the land these must appear as! though rising abruptly from the sea. The castles upon the extreme summits form unmistakable landmarks, resembling sentries on either side the fort and harbour of Kyrenia. On 6th April the general rendezvous was thej monastery of Bellapais, three and a half miles distant from Kyrenia, in response to the invitation of Major McCalmont, 7th Hussars, on the staff of Sir Garnet Wolseley, who had taken immense trouble for the gratification of his guests by sending tents, baggage, and sleeping accommodation for two nights, in addition to every kind of necessary refreshments. The route from Kyrenia lay through a country ofl the brightest shades of green, parallel with the sea,i about a mile and a half distant, towards which a sue-' cession of deep ravines, which formed river-beds in the rainy season, drained from the mountains at rightl angles with the path. This side of the Carpas range formed a strong contrast with the parched southern slopes, as every garden and farm was irrigated by water conducted from the mountains in artificial channels, which would otherwise have been absorbed! and lost in the wide and stony stream-beds if left to its natural course. W e passed through sombre groves of very ancient olives of immense girth ; then through villages concealed among a luxuriant growth of fruittrees, the almonds being already large, and eaten eagerly by the inhabitants, although still unripe. The oranges in heavy crops weighed down the dark green] branches, the deep yellow fruit contrasting brightly with the foliage, and the fields of barley that had

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