CYPRUS.

Kumara Times, Issue 593, 22 August 1878, Page 2

CYPRUS.

[From the Sydney Town and Country Journal] The island of Cyprus, which has just been taken possession of by British forces, in pursuance of the hew. treaty between England and Turkey, is a,very important territory. It is.bub : a. short : distance from Asia Minor ; (on the uorth( and Syria (on the. east), 1 and about 250 miles from the port. of .Said, the northern end of the Suez Oaqpl. .. ~ Cyprus is 140 miles long, from Baffa.* (the ancient Paphos) in the south-west** to Cape Andrea at' the north-east; (t is sixty miles, broad ' smith, and its area is about 9000 aquaqe' miles. A rugged chain of momdatypg,v£ in some parts 7000 feet high across the middle from'east to west, and, with its sparsr'eccngies three-fifths cf the area of theooirtitry. One-fifth of it is covered with splendid forests, chiefly of oak and walnut tree. Of the rest much of the land is suited to the production of all kinds .of cereals, also to the growth of the olive add the’vine. Coal and other useful minerals arefound there. The island: also produces silk and wool. There are two salt pits.

Tht! climate is remarkably favom- ° a bie to health, and the only natural 3 drawback to the prosperity of Cyprus r _is the want of water. Generally, for seven months in the year not a drop of " rain falls there, and the springs dry np in summer. If the island were well governed, reservoirs would be coni' strncted to meet this great want. The population consists chiefly of Hellenes. From the time of the Apostles Cyprus has been Christian. In more ancient times it was famous for a special form of Paganism, as Paphos was the city where Aphrodite or Venus received peculiar honours, and hence

that goddess received the titles “ Paphi--an” and “ Cyprian.” The success which crowned the efforts of Paul and Barnabas in this island, where the 1 Homan proconsul, Sergius Paulus, revived their Instruction, and. protected them'by his 'authority, knd where many 'were gathered into the Church ' <jf Ghiist, , hus:'gsven a sacred and en- .. diirifllfduteresfe.tp the history of Cyprus. s , Thd-secular history of Cyprus is also '7of peoiJiar interest from its connection ■''with great and the ancient indusffial character of its people. Two thousand five , hundred years before Yorkshire and Birmingham became famous for. their metal work, and the Clyde and the Thames for their ships, Cyprus was distinguished throughout the Mediterranean for the skill''of its inhabitants in working" the metal- copper, which has taken, its name from the island, and for their- ability as shipbuilders. Their ships ahd weapons .'■•formed part of the strength of Hiram, ‘ ”,r'Kjiig of Tyrei’ Solomon's' friendand Homer we read of the armohr by the King of A-breaaitplate-guarded, given by Cinyas rußi ptedgs" ,of -friendship i for in Cyprus’s isle. .

He heard, the rumour of the glorious fleet About fo sail for Troy ; then this lie gave A grateful offering to the mighty King. Ten hands were there inwrought of dusky bonze, Twelve of pure gold, twice ten of shining tin; Of bronze aix dragons upwards from the neck Their length extended, three on either side. , In colour dike thd bow, which Saturn’s son Placed -in the clouds, a sign to 'mortal men.” "

The occupation, which will probably 1 ,4ewelop into p(»<ses.siou, of Cyprus by .the British (govern rpent strengthens | ~she British position : in the Mediterra- | nean very mteiially. ' Not ' only "(toes I 'the island ptacticaßy command the en- j : trance to the Suez Canal, but it domi-.j nates the eastern part of. the Metliter-* • raneau. It conipetesthe chaih.of. which Giberalta,, Malta, and Adenthe j links. Of its strategetic valijje tbgre j can be no doubt, and whateVep Opinion \ may be held as to the policy‘or occnpa-1 tion, there can he no aoubt that it will I bo agreat blessingto the Greeks who j Comprise two-thirds of its population., , At this day most of the inhabitants belong to the Greek or Eastern Church. | Centuries of Turkish oppression have made them an indolent and spiritless I race, with a repetition for austuteness in double dealing. Ltbertv with firm dicipline, is n’eccessary for the elevation of their character. And it may be hoped that the presence of British •authority wfll have a, good influence «pon them. The population is about -200,000-—a little less than one-third •that of New South Wales. The revenue fathered by the Turkish Government is about £120,000, of which only £9OOO is expended on the island, leaving a not contribution |pom Cyprus to the enormous revenue of the Sultan of £IIO,OOO. By the new Treaty the British authorities are to collect the taxes, and to administer the Government, and to hand over the balance to the Cyprus being still regarded - as a i«wt of his dominions.

The capital and seat of the Government is Lefkosia, which is now' the centre of the island. In 1858 the imports amounted in mine to £57,939, the ' exports to £131,110. The people have made little use of their natural harbours, as they had only ten, vessels of from 60 to 100 tons. Considering the great natural reiimtrces of Cyprus and the fact that the . energies of its people have been repressed by ages of tyranny, it is , reasonable to expect that under a just and effective administration of Government it may become a very prosperous •winter.