Chap. VI. c/Monfieur Tavernier. j<j 



The twentieth we fet Sail, having the Wind at Weft-South-Weft, and a frefh 

 gale-, i'o that upon the twenty-third we dittover'd the Coaft of the Morea , to which 

 we approach'd lb near, as to dettry Navarin. In the Evening we law the City of 

 Cor on , where there is a great Trade for Sallet-Oyl. From thence it was that the 

 Great Tid^Embarqu'd for i.andy in the year 1645. 



The twenty-fourth the Wind was at Eaft-North-Eaft. In the Morning we ditto- 

 ver'd the Cape of Matapan , which is the moft Southern Point of Land in Europe, 

 lying in the Morea , and at Noon the Hand of Cherigo. 



The twenty-fifth we drew near Cyprus , and defcry'd a Mountain in that Hand, 

 call'd Cameliere , with fomc other Promontories toward the South. 



From the twenty-feventh day 'till we came to Alexandretta, we pcrceiv'd the 

 Sea to be all over cover'd with Pumice-ftones , which happ'nd from an Earth- 

 quake that had for fome time before iwallow'd up the Hand of Santorini. Some 

 think that it proceeded from the abundance of Sulphur, of which that Country is 

 full , which took Fire , and was the death of above 750 of the Ilanders , that were 

 partly buried in the Ruines, and partly dy'd out of fear. They that remain'd alive, 

 became black like Charcoal j and the Vapours that attended out of the Abyfs fully'd 

 all the Silver as far as Conftantinople ; the noile of the Earthquake being heard as far 

 as Smyrna. 



The twenty-ninth , by break of day we dittover'd the Hand of Cyprus. 



The firft of October by eight in the Morning we came to an Anchor before Salines, 

 which is one of the Ports of Cyprus , where our Coniuls live. Here I ask'd feverat 

 of the Chriftians of the Country, how they did to live and pay their Crrage ? Who 

 told me that it was with a great deal of difficulty, in regard the Hand was very bare 

 of Money •, which was the reaibn that many Chriftians turn'd Mahometans , to avoid 

 paying their Carage , which is a Tribute that the Grand Signor Iayes upon all 

 Chriftians throughout his Dominions. He exacts from the pooreft fix Piasters a 

 Head } but there are fome that pay a hundred , or a hundred and fifty : and this 

 Tribute is due i'o ibon as ever they come to be eighteen years of age. 



The Hand of Cyprus is one of the moft confiderable in the Mediterranean Sea, 

 more to the Eaft than any of the reft •, bearing the title of a Kingdom , as being 

 500 Miles in circuit. It is not all of the fame bredth, being of a triangular form, 

 the fides whereof arc very unequal. To it there belong feveral Capes or Promon- 

 tories, the principal whereof are, St. Epiphanio , toward the Weft:, Cape de 

 Gate , toward the South •, Cape Diegrega , toward the North-Eaft •, Cape Cormachiti, 

 toward the North *, and Cape St. Andrew, upon the moft Eaftern Point of the Hand. 

 The principal Roads are that of Salines or Larneca , that of Paphos , and that of 

 Cerines or Ceriani. The Haven of Famagofta fignifies nothing as to great Ships, there 

 being none but fmall Veffels that can ride there. The Venetians had formerly made 

 a fmall Mole there to harbour their Gallies , but it is now quite ruin'd. The Road 

 of Cerines is that where the Barks and Galliots lye that come from Caramania , and 

 Payajfes -, and where the Bafta's land that are fent as Govcrnours of the Hand from 

 Conjiantmople , who refide generally at Nicofia. That City is almoft in the middle of 

 the Hand, and was formerly a very large one, as appears by the compafs of the 

 ancient Walls. The new Walls are well terrais'd within-fide , and in a good pofture 

 of defence. There are three Gates belong to the City \ that of Famagofta , that of 

 Paphos , and that of Cerines. The City it felf is no uncomely place •, the Venetians 

 having adorn'd it with many fair Palaces, which the Turks demoliuh everyday, out 

 of hopes to find hidd'n Treaiure therein , and fell the Stones to build new Houies. 

 The Cathedral that goes by the name of Santa Sophia is an ample and fair Structure, 

 of which the Turks have now made a Mofcjuee , together with one more , which 

 was formerly a Monaftery belonging to the Anftin-Fryars. The Greeks have there four 

 Churches, and the Franks two *, that is to fay, the French Miftionary Capuchins, and 

 the Italian Miftionary Soccolans. The firft have a Church dedicated to St. James, the 

 others another, which is call'd Holy Rood Ovtrch. The Armenians alio have another 

 belonging to them , which is a very neat Building, which was formerly a Monaftery 

 of fhe Carthufians. # There it is that there is a Tomb , adorn'd with feveral Sculptures 

 of Religious Nunns*, efpecially an Abbeis with a Crofs in her Hand , the Writing 

 about the Stone being in French Charafters. The City is feated in a temperate Air 

 and a fertil Soil , abounding with Water. It extends more in length than bredth, 



having 



1* 



