HISTORY ETHNOGRAPHY NATURE WINE-MAKING SITE MAP
Selected and rare materials, excerpts and observations from ancient, medieval and contemporary authors, travelers and researchers about Cyprus.
 
 
 
 
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SIR SAMUEL WHITE BAKER
CYPRUS AS I SAW IT IN 1879
page 173

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it would afford an admirable position for a series of docks, and yards for the repairing of vessels. Γ walked through the whole of this confined mass ο rocks, silt, and water only a few inches deep, an was much impressed with the capabilities of the locality. Such powerful dredgers as are used in the Suez Canal would clear away the deposit, wit an outlay that could be calculated by the cubi contents, and the large margin that must generally be allowed in all estimates for harbour works would in the case of Famagousta, be superfluous. There are two enemies to be resisted—the sea, an the silt. The latter has been and still is brough down by the Pedias river ; this has entirely blocked the ancient harbour of Salamis, and partially destroyed that of Famagousta. The engineer has to repel these enemies, and he possesses a great advantage in the fact that Famagousta has already existed as a mos important harbour, therefore he is not experimentin upon an unknown bottom. Th e line of reefs afford the engineer's chief desideratum, " a sound foundation and the materials for his concrete blocks are close a hand in the chaotic mass of stone now choking wit ruins the area of the city, in the neighbouring ruins 0 Salamis, and, nearer still, in the native rock from whic Famagousta has been quarried. The island of Santorin from whence the pozzolane is supplied for hydrauli cement, is only three days distant. Few places posses in so high a degree the natural advantages for becomin a first-class harbour, and it has been computed tha about 300 acres of water can be converted into a wall locked basin, with an entrance from the south that would be secure during all weathers. The Bay Famagousta is extremely deep, exceeding 150 fathom

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