‘Cyprus.’ [‎67v] (134/184)

128
CYPRUS.
means uncommon. Political agitation, or opposition on the part of
the people to the constituted authorities is unknown, although the
country has had hard things to bear at the hands of her Turkish
rulers, and it is generally remarked that patience and docility are
amongst the marked features of the national character. At the
same time the slyness and cunning of the Cypriotes are noted, and
all over the Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. they have a reputation for keenness in business
which includes efforts to over-reach and cheat whenever it is
possible, knavery and lying being freely employed in order to gain
the required object. The Mussulmans of Cyprus have little of the
fanatical spirit and bigotry which characterize the Arab Mussul
man. They generally live in harmony with their Christian neigh
bours in town and country; this is usually found to be the case
wherever the Mussulman element is in the minority, and only
in Nicosia, where they form the majority of the population, do
they evince any desire to assert a superiority. The Christian
population is far more industrious and zealous in the acquisition of
wealth than the Mahomedan, and for many years past in the sales
of land, the latter have generally been the sellers, and rarely the
purchasers. The Turk is also seldom an intelligent agriculturist
so it can scarcely be wondered at that in Cyprus, the Christians
have acquired considerable ascendancy.
The Cypriote love of home and family is very strongly
evidenced, and is noticed by nearly all writers. It has often
been found difficult to induce men to leave their native village
even for considerable pecuniary advantages. The continual
care ot parents is the settlement for life of their children, and, with
this object, they will often despoil themselves of their whole
property, and settle it upon the younger members of the family.
Consul Lang, General di Cesnola, and others, mention cases of
this being done, and it points out in a most decisive manner not
only the self-denial, but the striking affection of the parent
towards his children. It is very commonly supposed that the
morals ol the Cypriotes are loose, but Consul Lang, speaking with
a thorough knowledge of the island, declares that this is an entire
mistake, and that the morals of the peasantry will bear most
favourable comparison with the same class in England and Scot
land.
The marriage customs of the Greek and Catholic inhabitants
are governed by the rules of the Greek and Roman churches, and
do not differ in any essential points from those in force elsewhere.
The Turks, in all religious rites, follow the precepts of the
Koran.
During the Lenten fast, and on Fridays throughout the year,
the religious Cypriote lives on bread and olives, and will not even
touch fish, or anything that has breathed. Various superstitions
exist in the island, the origin of which may be traced to the old
rites of Aphrodite; such, for example, is the custom of offering
doves to the priests. The “ evil eye is much dreaded throughout
the island, and curious precautions are taken by the natives in
order to avoid its influence. The ladanum plant is believed to
have magical properties, and the peasants carry it in their hands,