Cyprus: Historical and DescriptiveLöher, Franz von
History
Cyprus: Historical and Descriptive
Löher, Franz von
Cyprus -- Description and travel; Cyprus -- History
Towards evening we came in sight of Mount Olympus. Water, as clear as
crystal, was trickling down the lower rocks in all directions, and
a delicious breeze blowing from Olympus cooled our weary frames and
raised our drooping spirits as we lay, surveying the scene around us,
upon the banks of a rivulet, completely surrounded by oleander bushes.
Thus refreshed, we continued our way along the course of the stream
under the shade of numerous trees which became more luxuriant and
various as we advanced.
This delightfully wooded valley contrasted well with the bare naked
rocks above. All day I had seen the snowy crest of Mount Olympus
towering above its dark companions, and had imagined that it could only
boast a snowy cap. Now, as it rose before us, clearly distinguishable
from the rocks around, I found that the snowy veil extended far down
its sides and slopes. All true Alpine features are entirely wanting,
and to me there seemed something harsh and unattractive in the bare and
unbroken character of its naked rock.
Whilst it was still light we reached Evrychu. This, the prettiest
and most populous village in Cyprus, is situated in a lovely valley
surrounded by fruitful and luxuriant pastures, whilst above it tower
majestic groups of picturesque mountains. Evrychu lies 1700 feet above
the level of the sea, and contains seven hundred inhabitants; amongst
these, however, not more than a hundred families pay taxes. This
luxuriant valley might readily produce enough to support ten times
the number of people now dwelling there. When we arrived, evening
service was being performed in the church, and it is no exaggeration
to say that the whole of the inhabitants were around its walls, from
the youngest child to the most infirm of its old men and women. This
open-air gathering had a fine and solemn effect. The people themselves
appeared to me to differ in many respects from the short, stout
inhabitants of the coast and plains, who look as though heat and
perspiration had baked the dust and dirt into their skins. The people
of Evrychu, on the contrary, are well grown and finely made, and their
complexions fresh and blooming. Amongst the women and girls I noticed a
great number of pretty faces. There can be no doubt as to the fact that
these people are descended from the old Greek settlers, whilst those
in the open country and on the sea coast are descended from a mixed
race of Italians, Syrians, and Negroes. In the more frequented parts
of the island, traces of successive races were rapidly swept away,
whilst here in the mountain valley the people have for generations
lived comparatively unchanged and undisturbed. My opinions concerning
the descent of the people were strengthened by further observations,
and all along the mountain range I noticed a strong likeness to the
Greeks of several islands in the Archipelago; the type, however, not
being quite so pure (no doubt owing to intermarriage), nor faces and
figures quite so beautiful and slender.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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