CYPRUS. 
59 
perfectly conical form, excepting that its vertex ciiap. 
appeared truncated parallel to its base. Upon >*— -y — 
the road we noticed distinct masses of the 
purest transparent selenites, or crystallized 
sulphat of lime, as diaphanous as the most 
limpid specimens from Montmartre, near Paris. 
It seemed as if they had been dropped by 
caravans passing the road ; although we could 
learn nothing, either of the place whence they 
were derived, or the purpose for which they 
were intended. A ridge of mountains bounded 
all the view in front of our route: at length, 
at the distance of two hours and a half from 
Attien, we beheld the city of Nicotia, situate Appear- 
in the middle of one of the fine plains common nicotia. 
in this part of the island, at the base of one 
extremity of the mountain barrier. As we 
advanced towards it, we were struck with the 
magnificence of its fortifications, which, although 
neglected, still remain nearly entire ; surpassing, 
in extent and beauty, those of almost every 
other city. The moat is half a mile wide ; it 
is now dry, or at best but an unwholesome 
swamp. Beneath the walls the bed of this 
moat abruptly terminates in a deep and wide 
fosse. The ramparts are still mounted with a 
few pieces of artillery. The road winds round 
the walls towards the gate, which had once a 
portcullis. We found the entrance filled with 
