CHAP, II. Cyprus. the evening, by the hospitality of the English Consul, Signor Peristiani, who had prepared a large party of ladies and other inhabitants, all eager to represent to us the danger of travelling during the day; and to gratify very reasonable curiosity-for a sight of strangers, and for news from Egypt. Among the persons thus assembled was the English Consul of Berytus, from whom we obtained a silver tetradrachm of Tyre, in the highest state of preservation. The interesting costume of the Cyprian ladies ought not to pass Women of without notice. Like all the Greek women, they chew great quantities of mastic, imported from the Island of Scio, and deem it graceful to appear always biting this gum. Their headdress is modelled after the kind of calathus represented upon the Phoenician idols of the country, and upon Egyptian statues. This is worn by women of all ranks, from the wives of the Consuls to the meanest slaves. Their hair, dyed of a fine brown colour, by means of a plant called henna, hangs behind, in numerous long straight braids; and in some ringlets disposed near the face they place the flowers of the jasmine, strung together, upon slips from leaves of the palm-tree, in a very curious and pleasing manner. Next to the Calmuck, the Grecian women are, of all other, the best versed in cosmetic arts. They possess the secret of giving II. CHAP. a brown colour to the whitest locks, and also tinge their eye-brows with the same hue. The most splendid colours are displayed in their habits, which are very becoming to the girls of the island. The upper robe is always of scarlet, of crimson, or of green silk, embroidered with gold. Like other Greek women, they wear long scarlet pantaloons, fastened round the ankle, and yellow boots, with slippers of the same colour. Around the neck, and the head, they wear a profusion of gold coins, chains, and other trinkets. About their waist they have a large belt or zone, hanging very low, and fastened in front by two large and heavy polished brass bucklers, or bosses'; some of which we saw nearly as large as a barber's bason. They endeavour to make the waist appear as long as possible, and the legs, consequently, short. Naturally corpulent, they take no pains to diminish the size of their bodies by lacing, but seem rather vain of their bulk; exposing their breasts, at the same time, in a manner highly unbecoming. Notwithstanding the extraordinary pains they use to disfigure their natural beauty by all 66 (1) See Douglas on the Remains of Antient Customs among the Modern Greeks," for a proof of the antiquity of this kind of ornament. The two bosses thus worn by Greek women are shaped like antient shields, and are so placed as to suggest, by their critical situation, a notion of their being worn as bucklers of protection. ་ sorts of ill-selected ornaments, the women of Cyprus are handsomer than those of any other Grecian island. They have a taller and more stately figure; and the features, particularly of the women of Nicotia, are regular and dignified, exhibiting that elevated cast of countenance which is so universally admired in the works of Grecian artists. At present, this kind of beauty seems peculiar to the women of Cyprus: the sort of expression exhibited by one set of features may be traced, with different modifications, in all. Hence were possibly derived those celebrated models of female beauty, conspicuous upon the statues, vases, medals, and gems of Greece; models selected from the throng of Cyprian virgins, who, as priestesses of Venus, officiated at the Paphian shrine. Indefinite as our notions of beauty are said to be, we seldom differ in assigning the place of its abode. The same charms which, in former ages, gave celebrity to the women of Circassia, still characterize their descendants upon Mount Caucasus; and while we point out the natural residence of beauty, we may refer to countries where it never was indigenous. Foremost in the list of these, may be mentioned Egypt. The (8) "“ubi templum illi, centumque Sabao CHAP. II. CHAP. II. statues of Isis, and the mummies, preserve at Gardens of The gardens of Larneca are very beautiful, and Larneca. constitute the only source of amusement which the women of the place seem to possess. They are, however, no ornament to the town, being inclosed by high walls. Almost every house has its garden: the shade and verdure thus afforded is a delightful contrast to the glare of a white II. and dusty soil, everywhere seen around. In CHAP. these gardens we noticed two sorts of jasmine, one common in European countries, and the other a native of Syria; a beautiful variety of Iris ; and some other plants esteemed for their flowers; the double-blossomed pomegranate, a most beautiful shrub; also lemons, oranges, plums, and apricots. The Phaseolus Caracalla, kept in the green-houses of the Seraglio gardens at Constantinople, flourished here in the open air. They had also the Arbutus Andrachne, growing to an enormous size. Beneath these trees, affording almost the only shade known in this part of the island, the inhabitants assemble in small parties; where, seated upon mats, they regale themselves with fruit and wine, listening to their national songs. These are sung by itinerant musicians, hired for the occasion, who accompany their voices with the wretched scraping of an instrument still called a Lyre. It is shaped so as to resemble the Testudo, or Tortoise-shell, from which it was derived: and it has its original complement of three strings, whence the Asiatic Lyre received its appellation of the Tgíxogdos: its whining, plaintive tone, bespeaks its Lydian origin, even in its modern state: it is played like a violin, resting on the left knee, with a short horse-hair bow, answering to the antient plectrum. There is a manufactory of these |