315 
The existence of this place depends upon an abun- 
dant spring which comes from the north, and which di- 
viding itself in two streams waters the bottom of a valley 
between two hills of pure clay, extremely bare, and 
which never can have been fertile. Some houses are 
scattered here and there in this valley, as also some 
mills which furnish flour to Nicosia. 
The soil of this valley is not very good, but the 
scarcity of water in the island makes them turn it to as 
much profit as possible; and accordingly it is cultivated 
in every part which can be watered. 
In this space are kitchen gardens, and many mul- 
berry trees, which are not separated one from the other 
as in Europe, but grow very close together, so as to 
form a thick wood, which is not unlike a nursery; 
hence the trees are small and thin; they pretend that 
they produce more leaves in this way. In short they 
may be gathered by the hand from the tallest part of 
the tree. 
Cythera now furnishes a wood of mulberry trees for 
silk worms, some olive and other fruit trees, and vege- 
tables; all these are in the bottom of a valley, which, 
in consequence of the little circulation of air, the reflec- 
tion of the sun from the clay hills, and a chain of vol- 
canic mountains to the north, must be in summer an 
infernal abode. The inhabitants said that this season is 
not warm; but as man is an animal of habits, I paid 
more attention to what is to be discovered from the to- 
pographical situation of the place than to their dis- 
course. 
I had only doctor Brunoni and a servant for my com- 
panions on this journey. The doctor acted as inter- 
