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 349

View PDF version of this page

SIBTHORF. LEAKE. HUM E. 339 always administered, like the other Greek islands, by a deputy of the Qapudan Pasha. The ramparts of the Venetian fortifications of Lefkosia exist in tolerable preservation; but the ditch is filled up, and there is no appearance of there having been a covert way. There are thirteen bastions, the ramparts arc lofty and solid, with orillons and retired flanks. There is a large church converted into a mosque, and still bearing, like the great mosque at. Constantinople, the Greek name S. Sophia : it is said to have been built by Justinian, but this may be doubted, as Procopius, in his work on the edifices of that emperor, makes no mention of it. The flat roofs, trellised windows, and light balconies of the better order of houses, situated as they are in the midst of gardens of oranges and lemons, give together with the fortifications, a respectable and picturesque appearance to Lefkosia at a little distance, bnt, upon entering it, the narrow dirty streets, and miserable habitations of the lower classes, make a very different impression upon the traveller ; and the sickly countenances of the inhabitants sufficiently show the unhealthiness of the" climate. At Lefkosia we are very hospitably entertained by an Armenian merchant, of the name of Sarkos, who is an English baratli, and under that protection has amassed a considerable property, and lives in splendour; he and his relations seem to occupy all the principal offices of the island held by the Christians, snch as interpreter and banker to the Mutesellini, or deputy of the Qapudan Pasha, collector of the contributions of the Christians, head of the Christian community &c. February 14. From Lefkosia to Larnaka, eight hours. The first half of the distance was a continuation of the same plain as before, the remainder over ragged hills of soft limestone, among which we cress some long ridges of selenite. At Lamaka we found Sir Sidney Smith with his small squadron : he had just signed a treaty for the evacuation of Egypt by the French. February 15. We pass the day on board the Tigre, where we find General Junot, afterwards Duke of Abrantes, and Madame Junot and General Dupuy ; the latter, next to Kleber, the Senior General of the Army of Egypt. They were taken by the Theseus, Captain Styles, in attempting to escape from Alexandria. The town of Larnaka stands at the distance of a mile from the shore, and has a quarter on the seaside, called Άλικες by the Greeks, and Marina by the Italians. In the intermediate space are many foundations of ancient walls, and other remains, among the gnrdens and inclosures. The stones are removed for building materials almost as quickly as they are discovered : but the great extent of these vestiges, and the numerous antiquities which at different times have been found here, seem to leave little doubt that Citium stood on this spot, the most ancient and important city upon the coast. March 2. After having remained several days at Larnaka and Lefkosia, we arrived tc-day at Tzerina, on our return to Constantinople. The purity of the air on the north coast of Cyprns is \'ery sensibly perceived, after leaving the interior plains and the unhealthy situation of Larnaka. The Turkish troops are already arriving in large bodies, on their way home, in the faith that the war of Egypt is concluded. C. We landed at the seaport or Marina of Larnaca, called by some authors Salines from the saltpans in its neighbourhood. It stands at the bottom of the bay : it is a small place, but contains a mosque, a church, baths, coffee-houses and well-filled shops. In these we observed plain and striped cottons; mixed stuffs of cotton and silk, silk purses, tobacco pipes, hardware, books in modern Greek. Some of the streets are rendered cool and pleasant in summer by a canopy of vines. Larnaca is situated about a mile to the east of the Marina,

View PDF version of this page


  Previous First Next