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Selected and rare materials, excerpts and observations from ancient, medieval and contemporary authors, travelers and researchers about Cyprus.
 
 
 
 
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CLAUDE DELAVAL COBHAM
Exerpta Cypria
page 74

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J. LOCKE. 09 bigger, which case being broken you shall see the egges be much like unto antes egges, but somewhat lesser. Thus much I have written at this time, because I had no more time of knowledge, bnt I trust at my returne to note more of this island, with the commodities of the same at large. The 13 day Ave went in the morning to the Greekes church, to see the order of their ceremonies, & of their Communion, of the which to declare the whole order with the number of their ceremonious crossings, it were to long. Wherefore least I should offend any man, I leave it unwritten : but onely that I noted well, that in all their Communion or service, not one did ever kneele, nor yet in any of their Churches could I ever see any graven images, bnt painted or portrayed. Also they have store of lampes alight, almost for every image one. Their women are alwayes separated from the men, and generally they are in the lower ende of the church. This night wo went aboord the ship, although the wind were contrary, Ave did it because the patrone should not find any lack ofrns, as sometimes he did : when as tarying upon his OAvne bnsinesse, he Avould colour it with the delay of the pilgrimes. The 14 ds.y in the morning we set saile, and lost sight of the Island of Cyprus. The 23, 24 and 25 September we sailed our direct course Avith a small gale of Avinde, and this day we had sight of the Island of Cyprus. The first land that Ave discovered Avas a headland called Cavo de la Gricga, and about midnight we ankered by North of the cape. This cape is a high hil, long and square, and on the east corner it hath a high cap, that appeareth unto those at the sea, like a Avhite cloud, for toAvard the sea it is Avhite, and it lieth into the sea southwest. This coast of Cypras is high declining toward the sea bnt it hath no cliffes. The 26 Ave set saile againe, and toAvard noone Ave came to the port of Salini, Avhere Ave Avent on land and lodged that night at a toAvne one mile from thence called Arnacho di Salini, this is but a village called in Italian, Cnsalia. This is distant from IafEa 250 Italian miles. The 27 Ave rested, and the 28 Ave hired horses to ride from Arnacho to Salina which is a good mile. The salt pit is very neere two miles in compassé very plaine and levell, into the which they let nume at the time of raine a quantitie of Avater comming from the mountaines, which Avater is let in until the pit be full to a certaine marke, Avhich when it is full, the rest is conveyed by a trench into the sea. This water is let runne in about October, or sooner or later, as the time of the yeere doth afforde. There they let it remaine untili the ende of July or the middest of Angust, out of which pits at that time, in stead of water that they let in they gather very faire Avhite salt, without any further art or labour, for it is only done by the great heate of the sunne. This the Venetians have, and doe raaintaine to the use of S. Marke, and the Venetian ships that come to this Hand are bound to cast ont their ballast, and to lade with salt for Venice. Also there may none in all the Hand buy salt but of these men, who maintaine these pits for S. Marke. This place is watched by night. Also under the Venetians dominions no toAvne may spende any salt, but they must buy it of Sainte Marke, neither may any man buy any salt at one toAA-ne to carie to another, but every one must buy his salt in the towne where he dwelleth. Neither may any man in Venice buy more salt then he spendith in the city, for if he be knoAven to carie but one ounce out of the cittie aud be accused, he looseth an eare. The most part of all the salt they have in Venice commeth from these Salines, aud they have it so plentifull, that they are not able, never a yeere to gather the one hälfe, for they onoly gather in Jnly, August, September, and not fully these three monthes. Yet notwithstanding the abundance that the shippes carie away

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