CYPRUS. 47 
the evening, by the hospitahty of the English chap. 
Consul, Signor Peristiani, who had prepared a ^— s — ' 
large party of ladies and other inhabitants, all 
eager to represent to us the danger of travelling 
during the day ; and to gratify very reasonable 
curiosity — for a sight of strangers, and for news 
from Egypt. Among the persons thus assembled 
was the English Consul of Berytus, from whom 
we obtained a silver tetradrachm of Tyre, in 
the highest state of preservation. The interesting- 
costume of the Cyhrian ladies ousht not to pass Women of 
-^{ ° ^ Cyprus. 
without notice. Like all the Greek women, they 
chew great quantities of mastic, imported from 
the Island of Scio, and deem it graceful to 
appear always biting this gum. Their head- 
dress is modelled after the kind of calatlms 
represented upon the Phoenician idols of the 
country, and upon Egyptian statues. This ig 
worn by women of all ranks, from the wives of 
the Consuls to the meanest slaves. Their hair, 
dyed of a fine brown colour, by means of a plant 
called henna, hangs behind, in numerous long 
straight braids ; and in some ringlets disposed 
near the face they place the flowers of the 
jasmine, strung together, upon slips from leaves 
of the palm-tree, in a very curious and pleasing 
manner. Next to the Calmuck, the Grecian 
women are, of all other, the best versed in. 
cosmetic arts. They possess the secret of giving 
