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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 59

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BAUMGARTEN. Martin von Baumgarten in Braitenbach was born 1478 at Kufsteiu on tlie Inn, where lie died in 1583, the third of the twelve children of John von Baumgartcu, a noble and wealthy Tyrolese. He made the naual pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Mount Sinai, and on Ins return visited Cyprus, remaining In the island from February β to March 28,1508. His Travels were published in Latin, 4to, Nürnberg, 1594, and in English, in Churchill's collection, fol. London, 1704, anil 8vo, 1752. I transcribe from the first English edition, vol I. pp. 489—191. On the eighth of February, about the third hour of the day, we arrived at Cyprus, and got into harbour at Salina ; here we stayed many days for certain reasons. This city was of old called Salamis, or Salamina, un this occasion. Salamina is a certain island in the Eubrean Sea, over against Athens, baring in it a city of the same name, in which reigned Telamon, the father of Ajax and Tencer. Bnt when Teucer returned from the Trojan war, and had not revenged his brother Ajax's death, being exiled by his father., he went to Cyprus, and called this city there after the name of his native country. In this city it was that Paul and Barnabas preached. And there too it was that Barnabas suffered martyrdom. There is near it a lake of excellent salt, which being coagulated by the heat of the sun only proves the best salt of any, nnd is exported in great quantities into Syrin, Greece, Italy, and other countries, yielding great profit to the state of Venice. Near the harbour of Salamina is a chnrch, in one end whereof the Greeks, and in the other the Latins perform their divine worship. Not far from this place, by the sea, at the foot of a hill are to be seen the ruins of an amphitheatre; adjoining to it is a cave laid with pyramidal atones, and about it many huge stones and pieces of antiquity, and pillars of white marble, but the inscriptions are totally defaced. Nymosia or Nicosia, a city of Cyprus. Its episcopal see. A storm at sea. A pirate at Bhodes. Ptscopia rased. Paphus, its founder. The third day of March, because our ship was to be loaded with corn in another part of the island, leaving all our things on board, we t m veiled by land both for our recreation and to have the butter view of the island. The first place we came to the next day was Lymosiu, of old Nymosia, und lodged in the bishop's house, fur this is one of the four episcopal sees that are in Cyprus. The first is in Leucosia, now called Nicosia. The second at Fainagusta. The third in Paphus, which episcopal sees aro each of them double, KO that in every one of them there's both a Creek and I«tin bishop. The same day about noon our ship arrived, so we made haste to get some provisions, which we carried with us and went on board. Sailing from thence immediately, before we had got a mile off, the wind rose and blew so hard that we were forced to anchor under a promontory ; and there did we for three days together without intermission dance and caper, but nut very merrily, having for music the loud noise of the winds, the rattling of the storm, and the roaring of the sea. While we were thus circumstanced, there came up with us a pirate ship belonging to Rhodes, who asking us whence we came, and what we had on board? when they found that all belonged to Christians they took away from ns some oars they wanted and left ne. 54 EXCERPTA CYPRIA.

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