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 321

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gorge and crossed the river near some water-mills, as the bridge was not yet completed in the distant angle, of the glen. W e now ascended an exceedingly steephill from the river's bed, which severely tried our animals, until, after passing a succession of cereal crops and vineyards, we arrived at the summit, about 1200 feet above the valley. From this point the view was magnificent. The pine-covered sides of Troodos. appeared close before us, and a valley stretched away to our right richly clothed with trees below1 the steep vine-covered sides of the surrounding mountains. Keeping to our left and passing through several insignificant villages, we commenced a mosti dangerous descent, with an occasional deep precipice I on the right of the extremely narrow path, until we: reached a contracted but verdant glen. This was ai remarkable change : we had suddenly entered one| of those picturesque vales for which Devonshire isj famous. The vegetation had changed to that ofi 'Europe, as we were now nearly 3000 feet above then sea. Apple and pear trees of large size were present,] not in orchards, but growing independently as thoughi wild. Dog-roses of exquisite colour were in fullli bloom, and reminded us of English hedges. Beautiful! oak-trees scattered upon the green surface gave • park-like appearance to the scene, and numerous! streams of clear water rippled though the myrtle-j] covered banks, over the deep brown rocks of thejl plutonio formation, which had now succeeded to thejl cretaceous limestone. It was a curious geological division, limited by thejj] glen : on the left, the hills and mountains were thejfl usual white marls and cretaceous limestone ; while on .1 the right everything was plutonio or granitic, including I

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