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.
 
 
 
 
uses Google technology and indexes only and selectively internet - libraries having books with free public access
 
  Previous Next  

GIOVANNI MARITI
Travels in the Island of Cyprus
page 108

View PDF version of this page

men of war, fully armed, had arrived at Limasol to assist the island. I informed the consul, so that he might take the news to the Governor, and then persuade the people, who might now expect armed help, to let him return. The inhabitants waited for the news to be confirmed, and then let him go. .He arrived on February 25th—Signor Saraf had managed to leave Nicosia on the 23rd—and I was glad enough to resign my duties at Larnaca. As soon as Mr Turner left, hostilities were renewed, and the rebels again attacked the capital. Meanwhile the vessels whose arrival had been announced at Limasol came on to Larnaca ; they were two small galliots commanded by Ibrahim Bey with 150 men, a force too small to be effective. They attempted negotiations, and when these failed put out again to sea. The rebels meanwhile kept their position before Nicosia, brought up several cannon, and began to use them against the city. On June 6 Ja'far Bey, captain of a Turkish privateer, arrived in the roadstead of the Salines with one war vessel, one xebec, and two half galleys. With the intention of restoring peace to the island he landed 200 men, and took possession of the fort in the town. His soldiers were guilty of every kind of excess, and very soon were hated more than the rebels, who had never done the least harm to private persons. The next day Khalil Agha sent to Larnaca a detachment of 500 of his followers to ask Ja'far Bey why he had landed and seized the fort, and to express his wonder that he had dared to take such a step, for the fort and the whole island were well guarded for the Sultan by faithful subjects, lovers of justice. If they had need to defend themselves against a foreign foe they did not want the help of a pirate and > his handful of insolent rascals. Ja'far Bey was somewhat embarrassed by this attack, but took no stronger measures than to draw up his few men under arms. Several proposals were made, the last being to wait the decision of Khalil Agha, to whom a message was sent. A I04 Insurrection of 1764-6 [CH.

View PDF version of this page


  Previous First Next