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square pedestal surrounded by a little wooden balus- 
trade. Upon the pedestal are some small pictures, the 
mass book, and other effects. The ministers who alone 
are permitted to enter the presbytery, say the mass 
(as I am informed) with the three doors shut; they on- 
ly open them at certain moments fixed by the ritual. 
The faithful are in the body of the church, and their 
imagination adds to the grandeur of the mysteries which 
they do not see. The women place themselves in a 
high gallery, covered with thick blinds, where they can- 
not be seen. 
The Greeks wear mustachios, and shave the beard 
like the Turks; but those advanced in years, as also the 
priests, commonly let it grow. 
The Greeks are not allowed arms, but they all have 
a stiletto or knife hid under their coat. 
The commerce of the island, of which cotton appears 
to be one of the principal articles, is entirely in their 
hands. In this instance the Turks play only a second- 
ary part. The indolence of their character is well 
known. Satisfied with their climate, and to be in- 
habitants of the Cyprus trees, they smoke their pipes 
quietly, and never put themselves out of their way, but 
when they can offer an insult to a Greek, under pre- 
tence of a real or imaginary fault. The greatest crime 
is pardoned if the criminal puts into the scale as much 
gold as, according to the avarice of the judge, is equiva- 
lent to the weight of the alleged offence. Property is 
not respected, unless the proprietor is the richest or the 
most protected; and the poor unhappy Greek villagers 
are often turned out of their patrimony by the Turks, 
who take possession of the property. 
