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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 283

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Before they surrendered, there was neither cow, horse, mule, ass, dog, cat, or even mouse within their walls; while the small succours, sent from Venice, loitered four months in Crete, at a time when they knew their fellow-citizens, whose name will never die so long as the records of honour survive, were suffering all imaginable calamities, and struggling with inexpressible difficulties, which they only conld have rendered surmountable; for what might not have been expected from the valour of such defenders, had thoy been seasonably supplied with previsions, arms, ammunition and a proper reinforcement of the garrison ? Being at length reduced with famine and fatigue to such a degree that they conld scarce stagger under the weight of their arms, they were fain to capitulate on these conditions ; that the inhabitants should not be plundered, and that they should have liberty to worship Cod in their own way ; that the garrison should march out with all the military honours, and be supplied with proper vessels to transport them to Crete. Everything being ready for their departure, Mustapha sent for Bragadino, who went to wait upon him \vith Baglione, accompanied by several officers of the first distinction, and such a number of guards as were proper to attend a general upon such an occasion. They were ut first treated with great ceremony; and just as they were going away, Mnstapha asked for the prisoners. Bragadino, being surprised at this demand, answered, that he never had any from the beginning of the siege : " What ! (cried the barbarian) have you murdered the faithful ?" So saying, he ordered the whole company, Bragadino excepted, to immediate and excruciating death : the general he reserved, in order to lengthen out and diversify his torture»; which he bore with the most exalted heroism. His nose and ears being cut off, he was rolled together like a ball, and crammed into a hole, scarce wide enough to hold him in that painful attitude ; thou he was taken out that he might not expire too soon, and forced to kiss the ground upon which the ruffian Pasha trod: they afterwards tied him naked to the yard's arm of one of their gallics, that he might be exposed to the scoffs and ridicule of the spectators; and at last when they found that he could not live much longer, he was hung up by one heel and flead alive. During the whole progress of these torments, he was never once seen to shrink: a circumstance which stung the brutal mnssulman to the soul. His skin was salted, stuffed, dried, and placed in the arsenal at Constantinople: bnt the family of this more than mortal man, whose name will ever be revered by all lovers of gallantry and virtue, hat) the address to convey it from thence ; and I am told it is now in their possession. Cyprus is ruled by a mussaJem, or governor, who is also a mnhasil, or collector of the grand Signior's revenues, and resides at Nicosia, which is the capital of the island, and stands in a pretty centrical situation. This city, where all the ultimate courts of judicature are held, together with five sea-port towns, where the trade is carried on, constitutes, in effect, all the considerable places in Cyprus, These are Larnaca, called, by way of eminence, Cyprns with its port of Salines, Famagosta, Chinina, Lemissol, ami Baffo; the other towns, though, perhaps they give names to different districts, are of no note or consequence; indeed there is more business transacted at Larnaca, where I reside, than in all the others I have mentioned. The names given to these places, by the Greek inhabitants, I shall for the sake of pronunciation write in the Greek Characters, and are Λαιχωσια, Λκρν^^α, AAi^cç, Φαμαγονσα, Xepivut, Ni/MfKw, and Πάψου. Famagiistft, Salines and this town of Larnaca, which is generally called Kvwpo by the Turks and Greeks, and Cyprus by the Europeans, are the only places of the island which I have yet seen; and, from all I can learn, I believe I shall not stretch my curiosity much further: for nothing curious or amusing is to be seen, and their method of travelling is not at all inviting. When I went to Famagosta, formerly Salamis, afterwards DRUMMOND.

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