Cape Karubieh-Deserted Village-Fruit Ships-Fruit-Carob-trees-A Cyprian Farm-house-Our worthy hostess-Light soil-Farm Labourers -Cost of living-Priests-Hospitality-Kiti-Mount of the Holy Cross Dancing Girls-Aphrodite-St. George the Martyr-Patron Saint of England-Legend of St. George-Tenets of the Greek Church-Clergy EFFORTS OF THE GERMANS TO OBTAIN CYPRUS Frederick the Second-An imperial Marriage-Cyprian Opinions-Barons -Knights-Importance of Cyprus as a Military Position-Regency— Quarrels Promises of Amendment-Form of Government-Departure of the Emperor-The Emperor denounced-Sedition-Terms of Peace -The Emperor is crowned-State of Cyprus-Civil Wars-Rebellion— Cyprus lost-A Fleet sent-Ibelin at Beyrut-Internal Disaffection- Defeat of Ibelin-Strenuous Efforts to raise Money-Bank Notes- The Genoese Rise-Defeat of the Imperialists-Death of Queen Alice- Peaceful Proposals-Renewed Hostilities-Papal Interference-The CYPRUS. HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE. CHAPTER I. LARNAKA. THE first approach to Larnaka, the chief sea-port of Cyprus, is well calculated to impress the traveller. The boundless expanse of blue sky and sea, the bold outline of the hills and mountains, brought out as they are into sharp relief by the clearness and brilliancy of the atmosphere, seem to throw the works of man far into the background and boldly assert the simple grandeur of nature. Such were my involuntary reflections as we dropped anchor in the roads of Larnaka on April 21st, 1877. This entrance to the island displays an expansive bay, the yellow sands of which are bordered by an extensive plain, broken B by bare and rocky hills, and in the blue distance backed by a chain of mountains. A landscape was before me, in which the towns, gardens, and buildings constituted only minor accessories. Larnaka appeared as a mere speck on the bosom of the open country. The haven contains about fifty houses, built in the centre of the curve of the bay, and above them wave the variegated flags of the different consulates, surmounted by pointed minarets and a new belfry. The town of Larnaka itself lies far behind, and is separated by wide fields from the haven. Thanks to the kindness of the German consul, a friendly welcome awaited me at the landingplace, where I found a dragoman ready to conduct me to my destination. Before leaving the haven, however, I inspected its streets, which presented an animated appearance. Artisans plied their trades in all directions, and dirt reigned supreme. The rows of houses interspersed with stately mansions, churches, and gardens, filled with waving palms, constitute its principal attractions; all else is strictly Oriental, namely, its filth, rags, and miserable huts of wood and clay. In the Catholic church, we found a solitary monk, who showed us some fine carvings. The pictures upon the partition which separates the altar from the rest of the church are diligently kissed by the worshippers. I could not but approve this custom, if only from the fact that a law of the church required that no one should salute the sacred pictures without previously washing his face. This ceremony takes place once a week, so that, happily, the gold and |