AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1553- 



Sixe horsemen men to the end it be not stolne by night. Also under 

 to watch the ^]^g Venetians dominions no towne may spende any salt, 

 ^^^pif' but they must buy it of Saint Marke, neither may any 



man buy any salt at one towne to carie to another, but 

 every one must buy his salt in the towne where he 

 dwelleth. Neither may any man in Venice buy more 

 salt then he spendeth in the city, for if he be knowen 

 to carie but one ounce out of the citie and be accused, 

 hee looseth an eare. The most part of all the salt they 

 have in Venice commeth from these Salines, and they 

 have it so plentifull, that they are not able, never a yeere 

 to gather the one halfe, for they onely gather in July, 

 August, and September, and not fully these three 

 monethes. Yet notwithstanding the abundance that the 

 shippes carie away yeerely, there remaine heapes like 

 hilles, some heapes able to lade nine or tenne shippes, and 

 there are heapes of two yeeres gathering, some of three 

 and some of nine or tenne yeeres making, to the value 

 of a great summe of golde, and when the ships do lade, 

 they never take it by measure, but when they come at 

 Venice they measure it. This salt as it lyeth in the pit 

 is like so much ice, and it is sixe inches thicke : they 

 digge it with axes, and cause their slaves to cary it to 

 the heapes. This night at midnight we rode to Fama- 

 gusta, which is eight leagues from Salina, which is 24 

 English miles. 



The 29 about two houres before day, we alighted at 

 Famagiista. Famagusta, and after we were refreshed we went to see 

 the towne. This is a very faire strong holde, and the 

 strongest and greatest in the Hand. The walles are faire 

 and new, and strongly rampired with foure principall 

 bulwarkes, and betweene them turrions, responding one 

 to another, these walles did the Venetians make. They 

 have also on the haven side of it a Castle, and the haven 

 is chained, the citie hath onely two gates, to say, one 

 for the lande and another for the sea, they have in the 

 towne continually, be it peace or warres, 800 souldiers, 

 and fortie and sixe gunners, besides Captaines, petie 



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