View PDF version of this page

MORVSOX. Fynes Movyson (1ÔÔ6—1617'?), the younger son of a gentleman of good estate in Lincolnshire, was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge, of which lie was elected Fellow in 1584. He travelled in Europe and the East between 1591—96, served in Ireland under Sir C. lilonut in suppressing Tyrone's rebellion, and was wounded at the siege of Kmwale, 1601. His Itinerary appeared in folio, London. 1617. I transcribe from Part i. pp. 213, 214. On Sunday the nineteenth of May, (159G) we came to the first promontory of the island Cyprus, towards the West, and after eight honres sayling, we came to the old city Paphos (or Paphia), now called Baffo, &• the wind failing ns"and gently breathing npon this castle of Venus, we honered here all the next night, gaining little or nothing on onr way. This place is most pleasant, with frnitfull hils, and was of old consecrated to the goddesse Venus, qneene of this ilaiid ; and they say that adamants are found here, which skilful 1 jewellers repute almost as precious as the Orientali. A mile from this place is the cane, wherein they faigne the seven. sleepers to have slept, I know not how many hundred years. The twenty one May towards the evening, we entred the port of Cyprus, called de Saline & the two & twentith day obtaining licence of the Turkish Cady to goe on land, we lodged in the village Lamica, within a monastery of European Friars. Here some of us being to saile to Joppa, A thence to goe by land to Jerusalem, did leave the Venetian ship, which sailed forward to Scenderona. The Turks did conquer the iland Ciprus from the Venetians, in the yeere 1570, and to this day possefcse it, the chief cities whereof are Nicosia, (seated in the middest of the island) aud Famagosta (seated in the furthest part of the island towards the East.) The Turkish Basha or governour, nseth to chnse Famogosta for his seate (though Nicosia be the fairer city), because it hath a good Hauen, and a most strong fort, which the Venetians built. The iland lieth two hundred and forty miles in length from the West to the East, and hath some eighty miles in breadth, and six hundred miles in compasse.. This iland yeeldeth to no place in fruitililnesse or pleasure, being inviched with Come, Oile, Cheese, most sweet Porkes, Sheepe, (having tailes that weigh more than twenty pound) Capers (growing upon pricking bushes) Pomegranate, Oranges, and like fruités; Canes or Heedes of sugar, (which they beat in mils, drawing out a water which they seeth to make sugar), with rich wines, (but gnawing or burning the stomacke) odoriferous Cipres trees, (whereof they make fiers), store of Cotton, and many other blessings of nature. Neere the promontory Del' Catto, so called of Cats that use to kill serpents, they take Falcons, which Hawkes the governours are commanded to send to Constantinople. They sowe corne in the month of October, and reape it Aprili. I know not how it ctanes to paese that in this island of Venus, all fruités taste of salt, which Venus loved well. And I thought that it was onely proper to the place at which we landed, where they make salt, till many ilanders affirmed to me, that the very earth, the sweet herbs, the beasts feeding there, and the fountain es of waters had a natnrall saltnes. The houses are built after the manner of Asia, of a little »tone, one roofe high, and plaine in the top, which is plastered, and there they eate and sleepe in the open air,... I formerly said, that we lodged at Cyprus in a monastery, whence being now to depart, c. 24 DANDINl. MORYSON. 185

View PDF version of this page