‘Cyprus.’ [‎15v] (30/184)

L4
CYPRUS.
Insurrection
Of 1764.
Temporary
occupation of
Cyprus by
Egypt.
Turkish ad
ministration.
Transfer cf
Cyprus to
Great
Britain.
The oppressive taxes and the arbitrary system of government
caused an insurrection in 1764, which assumed serious dimensions,
and the civil war which ensued lasted for two years.
In July 1832, after the capture of Acre by Ibrahim Pacha,
Cyprus was militarily occupied by Egypt, and was held by
Mehemet Ali for about eight years; but this temporary cession was
cancelled by a firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). at the end of 1838, and in 1840 the
island was returned to the Porte.
It has been reported that since this period a more just and
equitable system of government lias been pursued, although there
lias still been room for much improvement; since 1840 the popula
tion has about doubled itself.
Until 1870, Cyprus was included in the “Vilayet of the Islands
of the 'White Sea,” but it was then formed into an independent
Mutessariflik.
A firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). concerning reforms was read in Cyprus after the
accession of the Sultan Murad, but it is reported to have remained
practically a dead letter, and to have in no way attracted the con
fidence or the enthusiasm of the people. The annoyances ex
perienced by villagers at the hands of the zaptiehs with regard to
the collection of taxes did not cease, and but little protection from
over-exaction was secured to the inhabitants of the rural districts.
A succession of bad harvests has lately caused an increase in the
expenses of the island, for the government, on several occasions,
has been obliged to supply food to a large number of poor people
to keep them from starvation.
The last, and most important, event in the History of Cyprus
is the transfer of the island to England by a conditional Conven
tion entered into by Great Britain and Turkey on the 4th June,
1878, the terms of which are as follow :—
“ Convention of Defensive Alliance between Great Britain and Turkey, signed
June 4, 1878.
“ Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, Empress of India, and his Imperial Majesty the Sultan, being
mutually animated with the sincere desire of extending and strength
ening the relations of friendship happily existing between their two empires,
have resolved upon the conclusion of a Convention of defensive alliance,
with the object of securing for the future the territories in Asia of his
Imperial Majesty the Sultan.
“ Their Majesties have accordingly chosen and named as their Plenipo
tentiaries, that is to say :—
“ Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, Empress of India, the Eight Honourable Austen Henry Layard, her
Majesty’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentary at the
Sublime Porte ;
“ And His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, his Excellency Safvet Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of his Imperial Majesty ;
“ Who, after having exchanged their full powers, found in due and good
form, have agreed upon the following articles :—
Article 7.
“ If Batoum, Ardahan, Kars, or any of them, shall be retained by Russia,
and if any attempt shall be made at any future time by Russia to take pos
session of any further territories of his Imperial Majesty the Sultan in Asia,