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hand, what mineralogist can have given such a name to 
the village of Corno? They could give me no infor- 
mation of the origin of the village, which is a proof of 
its antiquity. It may contain about 30 houses in the 
centre of a small valley, planted with olive trees, &c. 
The inhabitants are almost all employed in making 
earthen ware. These hills are covered with wild cy- 
presses, forming groups and fine groves. It is from 
the isle of Cyprus that this tree takes its name. In the 
large groups of rock are perceived veins of quartz, but 
I did not find the least trace of granite. These moun- 
tains are assuredly metalliferous, for they contain mica, 
as also oxides of copper and iron. After traversing 
the brook, at two o'clock in the afternoon we entered 
on a large plain, the soil of which is a bad argillaceous 
earth. The plain may be a league in diameter. 
It is bounded on the east by small hills of a pure 
white clay, entirely barren. 
On leaving this small desert, some vegetable soil 
appears, but of an inferior quality. The whole of the 
adjoining plain is void of the beauty and fertility which 
enriches the southern part of the island. 
On the descent from the mountains stands the mo-, 
nastery of St. Thecla, in a beautiful situation. It is in- 
habited by a single monk, with several domestics and 
workmen, who cultivate the excellent lands attached to 
it. The archbishop of Nicosia, the real prince of the 
island, enjoys the produce of this monastery, and of a 
considerable number of others. Below the church of 
St. Thecla there is a spring of excellent water; the 
church is in a good state, and there are cells and lodg- 
ings in the monastery for travellers. 
