few days with him; and as we stated this to be impossible, he even threatened to detain the frigate at Salines for that pur pose. We were however resolute in our determination; and therefore representing to him the illness of our captain, and our utter inability to remain an instant after the Ceres had got her cargo on board, we took our leave; accompanied by an offi. cer of his guard, whom he permitted to attend us among the goldsmiths of the place, in search of medals and other antiquities.

It is to these artificers bearing the name of Guyûmjee, almost universally in Turkey, that the peasants of the country, and lower order of people in the towns, carry all the pieces of gold or silver they may chance to find in the soil, to be exchanged for modern trinkets. They are generally men in a very small way of trade, sitting in a little stall, with a crucible before them, a touchstone,* and a handful of very ordinary tools. Their chief occupation consists in making coarse silver rings, of very base metal, for the women, and in setting signets for Turks of all denominations. There is hardly a Mahometan who does not bear upon one of his fingers this kind of ornament. The Turkish signet is generally a carnelian stone,† inscribed with a few words from the Koran, a proverb in Arabic, or a couplet in Persian. We found, as usual, ample employment among these men; and were so much occupied in the pursuit, that we even neglected to visit the Cathedral of St. Sophia,t built in the Gothic style by the Emperor Justinian, when he raised the edifice of the same name in Constantinople. We have the testimony both of Drummond and Mariti for the architecture exhibited in this building. The cathedrals both of Famagosta and Nicotia are described as Gothic. If it be true, therefore, that the Nicotian church was erected by Justi

* Various substances are in use under the name of touchstone, and of course it has various appellations. Mineralogists have called it lapis lydius, corneus trapezius, primitive basalt, basanite, trap, schistus, &c. The substance most employed by oriental goldsmiths is a dark and very compact basalt.

To supply these stones, they frequently disfigure or conceal the finest antique gems; either by cutting them into a more diminutive form, or by hiding the work of the ancient lapidary in the setting, and turning the obverse side outwards for the writing.

The most beautiful edifice here, is, without doubt, the church of St. Sophia, where the kings of Cyprus were formerly crowned. It is built in the Gothic style, and has three large naves. It contains the tombs of the Lusignans, and of several ancient Cypriots and noble Venetians. The choir and the altars were destroyed when the city was taken. This church then became the principal mosque; and, Mustapha the Turk ish general, went to it for the first time, to offer thanks to the Almighty, on the fourteenth of September 1570." Mariti's Travels, vol. I. p. 98. It is said by Dapper (Descript. des Isles de L'Archipel. p. 32. Amst. 1733.) to contain an ancient tomb of very beautiful jasper, of one entire piece, eight feet and a half long, four feet and a quarter wide, and five feet high. Dapper, perhaps, alludes to that beautiful kind ef marble called Russo Antico by the Italians.

nian, we have authority for the existence of that style of architecture, in a high degree of perfection, so long ago as the middle of the sixth century, six hundred and forty years before the conquest of Cyprus by Richard the First; and certainly long anterior to the introduction of any specimen of the architecture called Gothic in Great Britian. Other instances of still higher antiquity exist in Egypt and Palæstine.

Our success in collecting gems was so great, that the number of our acquisitions in Nicotia exceeded the total of what we had been able to procure since our departure from Constanti nople. We found also silver medals of Antoninus Pius, Severus, Faustina, and of the Ptolemies. The bronze were all of late date, and almost all after the time of Constantine. We also made diligent inquiry concerning the yeny madem crystal. Some detached and very ordinary specimens of crystallized quartz were shown to us, by the name of Baffa stones; but the inhabitants were unable to polish even these. All the stones found in the island, capable of being polished, are sent to Grand Cairo for this purpose. This fact, while it serves to show the wretched state of the arts in Cyprus, also conveys a proof of their flourishing state in the present capital of Egypt, beyond the notions usually entertained of that remote city. Among our intaglios were numerous representations and symbols of Isis, Ceres, and Venus: a very beautiful gem representing Mercury leaning upon a sepulchral stêlê of Anubis, kneeling with the dove upon his left hand;† and one of very diminutive form, but of exquisite beauty, meriting a more particular description: it is a highly transparent garnet. The subject engraven represents a colossal statue, whose two arins extended touch the extremity of the stone. Before this figure is seen a person kneeling, in the act of worshipping the idol. This corresponds so accitrately with the descriptions given of the statue of Jupiter Serapis at Alexandria, whose two hauds touched the sides of the temple, that it is probable the gem was intended to preserve a

The learned antiquary will perceive the classical accuracy observed by the ancients in such representations. The subjects displayed upon their pictured vases, sculptured marbles, medals, and gems, were not the result of any idle faney or mo mentary caprice. Copious as the sources were whence all their varied imagery was derived, its exhibition was nevertheless circumscribed by canons. Mercury is pourtrayed reclining upon a stêlê; thereby typifying his office of conducting departed souls.

+ Per columbam verò aërem intelligit Horapollo, lib. i. rationem ibidem dat quod adeo sinceræ et pure naturæ sit, ut a nullo contagioso aëre quemadmodum cætera animalia, infici possit." Kircher Edip. Egypt. tom. iii. p. 291.

"Alba Palæstino Sancta Columba Syro."

Tibullas, Lib. i. El. 8. vers. 18.

memorial of the image. It has no resemblance to the appear ance of any Grecian Deity; the calathus, or rather the pileus upon its head, is like that seen upon Indian or Chinese idols; and this further coincides with the history of the worship of Serapis, transferred by one of the Ptolemies from Asia to Egypt. In the evening we mounted our mules, and again returned to Attién. Our good friend Mr. Sekis had laden an ass with all sorts of provisions for our journey, but we would only accept a basket of his fine apricots. These he said were nothing in comparison with the apricots he received anuually from Famagosta, yet they were the finest we had ever seen. We met caravans

of camels in our way to Attién, marching according to the order always observed in the east ; that is to say, in a line, one after the other; the whole caravan being preceded by an ass, with a bell about its neck. Camels never seem to seek the shade: when left to repose, they kneel down, exposed to the hottest beams of the sun. Trees, however, are rarely seen in this part of the island the inhabitants relate, that eastward of Nicotia, toward Baffa, the country being more mountainous, is also well covered with wood.* The rivers of Cyprus are dry during the summer months. Sudden rain swells them into torrents. Some fell during the second night we passed at Attién. In the morn ing, two hours before sunrise, we set out for Larneca; and having to cross a bridge, found it shaking so violently with the impetuosity of the water, that we feared it would fall. The ancient Cypriots pretended, that their paphian altars, although exposed to the atmosphere, were never wetted by rain. Proba bly they would not have escaped drenching during the showers

The list of plants found during this visit to Cyprus, being too long to be inserted here, we shall only mention three new discovered species.

I.

A non-descript, tall, branchy, strong-thorned species of ononis. This we have called ONONIS MACRACANTHA Ononis caule suffrutescente ramisque spinocis, foliis superioribus solitariis obovatis glandulosis apice dentatis : floribus solitaries pedun culatis-Caulis ramosissimus, flexuosus, deorsum, hirsutus. Rami valde spinosi, acuti, crassi, rigidi, supra glabri. Spine foliate, valide, florifera subbina. Folia petiolata lineas tres longa, inferiora non vidi. Pedunculi breves, Calyces glanduliferi corolla breviores, basin versus pilosi.

1. A non-descript species of Euphorbia.

This we have called EUPHORBIA MALACHOPHYLLA. Euphorbia dichotoma, foliis evatis, acute denticulatis, hirsutis mol libus; pedunculis solitariis unifloris, petalis laciniatis. Planta annua magnitudine E. scordifolia. tota hirsuta. Folia exacte ovata, lineas octo ad duodecim longa, mu crone innocuo terminata, basin versus integerrima. Petioli foliis ter brevioris.Flores è dichotomiis pedunculati parvi.

7II. A non-descript species of centaurea, or sar thistle. This we have called CENTAUREA MONACANTHA. Centaurea divaricata, calycis foliolis integris spinâ simplicissima terminatis, glabris; foliis superioribus spinoso denticulatis, lanceolato ob longis; inferioribus dentato pinnatifidis, scabris-Planta humilis ramosissima; rami divaricati, dichotomi. Capitula sessilia. Calycis foliolis arcte imbricatis glabris margine scariosis. Spina patula, validissima.

which had caused this inundation. We reached Larneca at eight o'clock, and were on board the Ceres before ten. Captain Russel's fever had much increased. The apricots we brought for him seemed to afford a temporary refreshment to his parched lips and palate, but were ultimately rather injurious than salutary. The symptoms of his melancholy fate became daily more apparent, to the great grief of every individual of his crew.

During our absence, the English consul had been kindly en deavouring to procure for me other reliques from the interesting vestiges of Citium. Before I left the island, he obtained, from one of the inhabitants, a small, but thick, oblong silver medal of the city; considered, from its appearance, as older than the foundation of the Macedonian empire. * couched in the front. The obverse side exhibits, within an inA ram is represented dented square, a rosary or circle of beads, to which a cross is attached. Of these rosaries, and this appendage, as symbols, (explained by converted heathens at the destruction of the temple of Serapis,t) having in a former publication been explicit, it is not now necessary to expatiate. That the soul's immortality was alluded to, is a fact capable of the strictest demonstration. The consul from Berytus also presented to me a magnificent silver tetradrachm of Tyre, with the inscription TYRE. HOLY. AND. INVIOLATE"

ΤΥΡΟΥΙΕΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΣΥΛΟΥ

66

OF

and also this monogram, marking the year when it was struck ; namely, 183 of the Seleucidan æra:

We left Cyprus on the sixteenth of May, steering for the coast of Egypt, and first made land off Damiata. Thence pass*Of this opinion is that learned antiquary, R. P. Knight, Esq. author of some of the most erudite dissertations in our language.

+ Socrates Scholasticus, lib. v. c. 17.

Greek Marbles," p. 78.

iSee Ibid A most satisfactory proof, not only of the Phoenician origin of this medal, but of its relationship to Citium, is afforded by the Citiean inscriptions published by Pococke, (Description of the East, vol. 11. p. 213.) wherein more than one instance occurs of the introduction of the identical symbol, seen upon its obverse side.

U

ing round a head land, called Cape Brule, we saw again the whole coast of the Delta, as far as the Rosetta branch of the Nile. We arrived in Aboukir Bay upon the morning of the twentieth. An alarm had been given at day break, as we drew near to the fleet, of smoke issuing from a frigate on fire. It proved to be the Iphigenia, Captain Stackpole, which ship we had so lately seen at Cyprus. She broke from her mooring as we were sailing toward her, and, passing through all the fleet, discharged her guns as they grew hot, but without doing any mischief. Exactly at nine o'clock, the very instant we let go our anchor, she blew up, and presented a tremendous column of smoke and flame, being then close in with the shore. We beheld the explosion from our cabin windows. After it took place, not a vestige of the ship remained. We breakfasted with Cap. tain Russell, and took leave of the crew: my brother's barge then coming alongside, conveyed us to the Braakel.

We had been only two days in the fleet, when, being on board the Dictator, Captain Hardy, to attend a court martial held in consequence of the loss of the Iphigenia, Captain Culverhouse, of the Romulus frigate, said he was ordered to Acre for a supply of bullocks; and asked if we were willing to ac company him. To this proposal we readily assented; happy in the favourable opportunity it offered of enabling us to visit the Holy Land, as well as to become acquainted with a very extraordinary man, Djezzar Pacha, tyrant of Acre, the Herod of his time, whose disregard for the Ottoman government, and cruel mode of exercising government among his people, rendered him the terror of all the surrounding nations. The old story of Blue Beard seemed altogether realized in the history of this hoary potentate. Sir Sidney Smith entrusted some presents for him to my care; and Captain Culverhouse* expressed a wish that I would act as his interpreter with Djezzar's dragoman, who could only translate the Arabic spoken in the country into the Italian language. We therefore made all things ready for another embarkation.

Neither of these excellent officers, Captain Russel, and Captain Culverhouse, are now living. Captain Russel died of the fever he caught in Cyprus; and Captain Culverhouse fell a victim to his endeavours to save a beloved wife, who was upset with him in a boat off the Cape of Good Hope. He narrowly escaped a similar fate in early life, being by accident on shore when the Royal George sunk at Spithead, to which ship he then belonged, as a midshipman.