The Persian Travels Book II. 



having been anciently nine Miles in compafs -, but the V tnetians to make it ftronger, 

 reduc'd it to the circuit of three. The Work of the Fortification was fo neat , and 

 fuch a proportion obfery'd in all things, that the moft famous Engineers efteem'd 

 it one of the moft ftately Fortrelfes in the World , when Se Urn the Second lent an 

 Army againft it, under the Command of Muflapha his Grand Viz.hr. 



Famagofta is a Sea-Town upon the Eaft-fide of the Hand , and the chief Bulwark 

 of it. It is kept in good repair, theCaftle within being in form of a Cittadel. The 

 T 'irks have converted into Mofquees the Churches of the Chriftians , who are not 

 fuffer'd to dwell in the City. They have only the liberty to come thither in the day, 

 ând to open Shops, which they (hut up again at night,and then go home to their Houfes 

 in the neighbouring Villages. The City is govern'd by a Bey, who has no dépen- 

 dance upon the Governour of the Hand , who is oblig'd to maintain a Galley for the 

 guard of the Coaft. 



Orines is another little City, but without any defence , the Walls thereof being 

 all tumbl'd to ruine. Only there is a Fortrefs toward the Sea, well built, with 

 a Garrifon in it. There is alio a handfom Monaftery of Religious Greeks , built 

 lomewhat after the French manner ^ wherein there are fome of the Cells which 

 ftani lb upon the Sea , that they can filh out of the Windows. The Fields about 

 it bear Cotton , which is the chief Revenue of the Monaftery. There is only the 

 Fort of Cerines upon the North , where the Hand does not lye fo open , as toward 

 the South and Eaft-, which befides by that of Famagojla, are guarded by the Forts 

 of Salines, Limijfo, and Faphos. The Inhabitants of the Hand are for the moft part 

 Greeks y efpecialiy in the Villages. They are clad after the Italian manner, both 

 Men and Women - 7 the Men wearing Hats like the Franks , and retaining their 

 ancient Cuftoms as much as is poflible for them to do. The Trade of the Hand lyes 

 in Cotton-wool , which is the beft in all the Eaft -, and fome Silk , which is neither 

 good , nor very plentiful. However the Hand is fertil enough, did it not want In- 

 habitants enow to till it. As for Bread, Wine, Cheefe, and Milk , they are all very 

 cheap, and there is Oyl enough to ferve the Hand. But for the Wine , it is trans- 

 ported out of the Hand to all the places of Trade not far diftant. The beft grows at 

 the foot of Olympus, and is a delicious fort of Drink. The Country between Nicofia 

 and Famagofta produces Cotton , of which there grows alio fome between Faphos and 

 Limijfo. The chief place where the Silk is made is call'd Cytherea , a large Town 

 watered with a fair River that runs from the Mountain of Venus. This River turns 

 feveral Mills , which are the chief Revenue of the Hand. There is Silk alio made 

 between Faphos and Limijfo • upon the Road between which two places you meet 

 with a Town call'd Pifcopi , where are to be feen feveral Aquaeducls , that carry'd 

 the Water into the Rooms and Magazines where the people formerly made Sugar. 

 But fince the Hand was tak'n from the Venetians , one of the Bâfrais that was fent as 

 Governour, burnt up all the Sugar-Canes in the Country. Toward the Sea-fhoar 

 near Limijfo , is to be feen one of the faireft Gardens of Cyprus , which they call 

 Shiti ; to which there belongs a magnificent Houfe , and a Grove of Orange- 

 Trees. It was built by a rich Venetian , who had a good Eftate in Lands there- 

 abouts. 



In Cyprus the people take a vaft number of Birds as big as a Lark, efpecialiy near 

 the Mountain of the Holy Crofl. In the Months of September and October, the 

 Country-people of the adjacent Villages make themfelves little Hutts in the Fields, 

 where ufually thofe Birds are wont to light , and feed upon the Seed of an Herb that 

 grows there-, which when it is dry, the people daub over with Lime-twigs. But 

 this they never do but when the North- Weft Wind blows , and that the weather be 

 very cold -, for with a Southerly Wind they never take any. Thefe Birds are ac- 

 counted great Dainties by the Venetians , who make no great Feafts in Carnival- 

 time wherein they do not fet thefe Birds upon the Table, pil'd up in Dirties like a 

 Pyramid. They buy them up every year } being firft prepar'd fit for exportation 

 by the people, who having pullM off their Feathers, parboyl them, and pickle them 

 up in Barrels with Vinegar and Salt. When they are to be eat'n , they are fet upon 

 a Chafing-difh , between two Dirties. Sometimes there are above a thoufand Barrels 

 exported out of the Hand -, and indeed , were it not for this Trade, the poor people 

 would fee but very little Money. 



Upon the Mountain of the Holy Crop Aland's a Church of the fame name} upon 



.* which 



