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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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GIOVANNI MARITI
Travels in the Island of Cyprus
page 127

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sell extremely cheaply, for the oily matter is almost lost. Thus cleaned and put into bags the Storax calamita is sold to European merchants, who send it to various western countries. Tariff charges are г\ piastres the sack of 50 to 60 okes. The best kind is rich in oil, and darkish in colour. It is judged by working it up in the fingers to note its cohesiveness, and lighting it to see how slowly it consumes. The better qualities should stand both these tests. Camel's hair, which is brought to Cyprus from Caramania, is of the same kind as that exported to Europe from Smyrna, but the former is less clean, and is full of bristles (called mostacci) which are useless, and at Smyrna are picked out. The same care might be taken in Cyprus, but where the inhabitants are so few they will not address themselves to a work which requires care and time. However the trade began some few years since, and though the European demand is small, the low price serves to sell this produce. Tariff charges are т>\ piastres the bale of 100 okes. Yellow wax is chiefly sold at Nicosia, and sent thence to Larnaca, to be exported in casks or bales of 100 okes each. Tariff charges are 5 J piastres the bale. Gall nuts, used by dyers, are grown in Caramania. There are several kinds, the best is the Galla spinosa, so called from the spines scattered over each nut. The nuts are dark green or nearly black, and heavy. Another variety is yellowish, but these have not the active properties of the darker nuts. Very few of these pass through Cyprus, most of them are sold at Smyrna and Aleppo for export to Europe. The best are grown in the neighbourhood of Mosul on the Tigris, and exported from Aleppo. Those which reach Cyprus from Caramania are not the Galla spinosa : they are light in weight, yellow, and altogether of inferior quality. They are in small demand in Europe, except in years when the Galla spinosa is very scarce and dear. Tariff charges amount to 3^ piastres the bag. To this enumeration of the exports from the island I ought xxi] Island of Cyprus 123

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