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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 421

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there has been a decided rise in the general value M property, which is due to the steady improvement M the trade, and does not represent a mere speculative! impulse as in Larnaca, which has suffered by a subset quent reaction. The municipal receipts of Limasol havj increased from ^207 in the twelve months ending 30th September, 1878, to ^171 8 in the ten months of 1879J This has certainly been due to the energy of Colonejj Warren, R.A., the chief commissioner of the district, tei whom I am indebted for all statistics connected witlji the locality. The position of a district chief commissioner was by no means enviable in Cyprus. The pay was absurdly! small, and he was obliged to institute reforms both fcaj sanitary and municipal interests which necessitated anj outlay, and increased the local taxation. The popu-j lation had been led to expect a general diminution oij imposts upon the suddenly-conceived British occu-j pation, and the Cypriotes somewhat resembled tie frogs in the fable when the new King Log arrived with a tremendous splash which created waves of hope upon the surface of the pool, but subsided into disappointment ; they found that improvements cost money, and that British reforms, although they bestowed indirect benefits, were accompanied by a direct expenditure. The calm apathy of a Cypriote is not easily disturbed he is generally tolerably sober, or if drunk, he i< seldom the &quot;worse for liquor, &quot; but rather the better as his usual affectionate disposition may be slightlj exaggerated, instead of becoming pugnacious anc abusive like the inebriated Briton. There are nc people more affectionate in their immediate domestic circle, or more generally courteous and gentle, than the Cypriotes, but like a good many English people

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