Chap. VI. of Mohfieur Tavernier. 



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

 gale^ fo that upon the twenty-third we difcover'd the Coaft of the Morea , to which 

 we approach'd fo near, as todeicry Navarin. In the Evening we faw the City of 

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

 Great 7#rJtEmbarqu'd for Candy in the year 1645. - 



The twenty-fourth the Wind was at Eaft-Norrh-Eaft. In the Morning we difco- 

 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, 

 calPd Cameliere , with fome other Promontories toward the South. 



From the twenty-feventh day 'till we came to Alexandretta, we perceiv'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 fwallow'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 thellanders, that were 

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

 became black like Charcoal , and the Vapours that afcended out of the Abyfs fully'd 

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

 as Smyrna. 



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



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

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

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

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

 of Money -, which was the reafon that many Chriftians turn'd Mahometans , to avoid 

 payirig their Carage , which is a Tribute that the Grand Signor layes upon all 

 Chriftians throughout his Dominions. He exafts 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 fo fooh as ever they come to be eighteen years of age. 



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

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

 5 00 Miles in circuit* It is not all of the fame bredth, being of a triangular form, 

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

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

 Cjate , 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 

 Cer'mes or Cerigni. The Haven of Famagofla fignifies nothing as to great Ships, there 

 being none but fmall VefTels 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 Bajha's land that are fent as Governours of the Hand from 

 Confiantinople , 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 Wails are well terrafs'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 demolifh everyday, out 

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

 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 Auftin-Ytyns. The Greeks have there four 

 Churches, and the Franks two } that is to fay, the French Miflionary Capuchins, and 

 the Italian Miflionary Soccolans. The firft have a Church dedicated to St. JameSj the 

 others another, which is call'd Holy Rood Church. The Armenians alfo have another 

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

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

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

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

 and afertil Soil , abounding with Water, It extends more in length than bredth, 



having 



