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into 125 lotef each priced at 12,500 piastres. From each of these lots the buyers, Turkish capitalists and officials, enjoy by imperial decree, by way of interest, 2000 piastres. In a year's space this interest, collected from the Rayah only, amounts to The Christian population pays yearly besides The Governor, for bis investiture (qaftan-parasi) pays yearly to the Vazir P. 250,000 P. 65,000 P. 32,000 Yearly assessment, not counting other dnes paid by Turks and Greeks alike P. 347,000 I judged it idle curiosity, and likely to rouse the suspicions of witless persons, to set forth in detail the state-revenue of the island collected from Moslem and Christians. Yet I possess a detailed and accurate account of the snms encashed in 1777 under the rule of Baqi. For the information both of the natives and the curious stranger, I may add this, that in spite of its scanty population the island pays yearly and inevitably to its masters more than it paid under the Venetians. Yet it is scourged by locusts, and often wasted by drought: it is deficient in the inhabitants, farmers, artisans and merchants, adequate to its extent, and necessary for the development of its soil. As regards its administration, call it as yon will a government or a tyranny, if anyone would compare the conduct of the former authorities, albeit Christians, with that of the rulers of to-day, conquerors and aliens in faith and race, he would find both equally oppressive to the people under them. Briefly, according to the census of 1777, in the miserable days of the monster Baqi, the families of Creeks, Armenians and Maronites, rayahs paying taxes, rich and poor together, were distributed (omitting Levkosia) in 564 villages and towns, allotted to the various sub-districts and qaziliqs comprised in the four districts into which the island is divided, and subject finally to the one capital Levkosia. You will find below a general estimate of the Turks and Christians, of both sexes and all ages, now inhabiting Cyprus ; al though I cannot say whether in the eleven years which have elapsed since the last census the population has increased or decreased. But there are those who think the estimate excessive, and it may be admitted to be approximative, rather than ascertained with curions exactitude. Families of Christian subjects assessed for taxes in 1777. District of Levkosia. Levkosia itself contains Families 755 Sub-district of the Messoria Villages CI „ 1,144 „ Ammochostos and Carpa s „ 40 „ 957 „ Orine „ 48 „ 869 „ Kythraia „ 49 „ 926 198 4,651 District of Paphos. Snb-district of Paphos Villages 45 „ G91 „ Kouklia „ 18 „ 201 „ Chrysochou „ 38 „ 577 „ Avdim „ 16 „ 236 117 1.705 366 EXCERPTA CYPRIA.

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