The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-08 00:00:00

ISLE OF CYPRUS.

A communication from Larnaka (Isle of Cyprus)
of the 20th ult. has the following :

"A step has at last been taken to explore the
hidden antiquities of this island of ancient lore.
By the last steamer from Syria three French gen-

tlemen well versed in antiquarian research arrived
at this port from Beyrout, and at once commenced
operations in the neighbourhood of Larnaka, ac-
companied by M. Demetrius Periedes, a resident
gentleman who has devoted much time and labour
in this Interesting study, and who possesses many
valuable specimens of ancient sculpture, some of
them dating back to the time of the Phoenicians.
After spending three days here they proceeded to
Athene, a village about three hours' distance from
this, and where, a few days previously to their ar-
rival in Cyprus, a well-preserved and most perfect
statue of Venus, which no doubt dates back to the
era of the worship of that goddess (the Phconician
Astarte') was discovered by a peasant, and added
to the collection of M. Grassett, a French gentleman
long resident at this port, whose name has also been
associated with the scientific researches and impor-
tant discoveries which render Cyprus at the present
moment a field of no ordinary interest, abounding
as it does with memorials of heathen mythology,
and relics of the past. From Athens, where they
obtained some valuable relics of antiquities—many
of which are of Egyptian sculpture—these gentle-
men proceeded to Famagousta, the principal ancient
port of Cyprus, where the Venetian fleet was burned
in the year 1570, and in the harbour of which the
entire treasures of the old enterprising inhabitants
of the Isle still lie buried, the Turkish Government
having refused to permit an English company to
deepen the port (the best on the entire coast of
Cyprus, and where at a trifling expense docks so
much needed in the Levant could be made), on con-
dition that any treasure found during the operation
should become the property of the company, thus
acting the old fable of the dog in the manger, At
Famagousta, I have no doubt but that the ex-
plorers will be well rewarded for their researches
by further valuable acquisitions to their collec-
tion, From thence they propose going to Sala-
mis, Nicoseed, Dellapais, Lapidos, Mousul, Troides,
(the ancient Olympus), Paphos, the place where
the sorcerer Elymas was struck blind by the
apostle Paul in the year A.D. 45, and Kolpssi, the
seat of the Knights Templars, one of whose strong
castles still remains in the most perfect preserva-
tion, which with a very small outlay might be
made habitable for a nobleman's family. In a fu-
ture letter I hope to give you an account of import-
ant discoveries made by these gentlemen; but if
the Turkish Government are desirous of encourag-
ing antiquarian research in Cyprus, it must take
prompt measures to control within reasonable limits
the rapacity and injustice of the present governor
of the island, which have reached a point utterly
unpardonable, as an instance of which I shall
merely state the fact that when that official found
that the discoverer of the statue at Athene, which
I before alluded to, had sold it to aEuropean, he had
the unfortunate man arrested and imprisoned with
the most notorious criminals, where he still remains,
notwithstanding the energetic protest of the Con-
sul of France, Count du Tour, to obtain his re-
lease. The approaching harvest in Cyprus pro-
mises to be a most abundant one, the corn crops
all through the island being most luxuriant, and
if the great local pests, the locusts, will be con-
tent with but one-third of the promised yield,
there will still be a large margin for exporta-
tion. The breadth of land preparing for cotton
is unusually great, but here again little encou-
ragement is given to cultivators of that plant ;
it is true that the Pasha has issued circulars re-
commending the planting of cotton on the ground
of the likelihood of high prices next season, but he
neither gives advice nor assistance to the peasants
as to the method of planting, nor gifts, nor loan of
seed. His circulars, therefore, have more the effect
of raising the rent of cotton land on those who do
not hold any of their own, but who are desirous of
planting small lots—say 15 or 20 acres—by way of
experiment, and thus endeavouring to induce the
peasants to cultivate their laud in a proper manner,
and sow a superior description of seed. The prices
of provisions in Cyprus, with the exception of bread,
which continues at its usual price, are most exorbi-
tant. This, as far as meat is concerned, is caused
by the great loss of cattle in the island during the
last year, more than two-thirds of the whole live
stock having died for want of food ; and little or
no vegetables are to be had. The poor are
consequently suffering much on this account,
and because, also, of the great scarcity of employ-
ment—the last harvest not having yielded halt the
usual produce; indeed that of cotton alone fell off
300 per cent. I regret to announce the total loss of
a fine English brig, the Isabella and Dorothy, of
277 tons register, which took place on the 30th ult.
in the bay of Famagousta; all hands were saved,
with, however, the loss of their clothes and every-
thing else. The brig was in ballast, bound from
Beyrout to Limasol to take in locust-beans from
thence for Cronstadt, and was only partially insured.
This is, I believe, the first British vessel which has
been lost on the coast of Cyprus in the recollection
of the oldest inhabitant. A consular fracas took
place here lately which is worth reporting, the parties
to it being Count du Tour, the French Consul, and
M. Mattei, the Prussian Vice• Consul. The former
happening to meet M. Mattei and his wife in the
street—after having met both of them on the pre-
vious day at the house of a mutual friend, when the
usual civilities of salutation were interchanged—
saluted them. The lady returned the salute, but her
husband did not. Count du Tour thereupon de-
manded an explanation on the spot, and this being
refused he struck M. Mattei with his whip. The
latter replied with several blows of a heavy walking
stick, when some passers by interfered and sepa-
rated the combatants. In the evening, two friends
of the Count called on M. Mattei to demand satis-
faction, but they were refused admittance. A written
challenge was then sent, to which the Vice-Consul
replied that he had referred the matter to his supe-
riors. The other members of the Consular body
have taken Count du Tour's part, and M. Mattei
is consequently for the present in virtual Coventry."

WRECK OF 2HE SP.A.R7AY, TRANS-
PORT STEAMER, ,AND LOSS OF LIFE.

We regret to announce the loss of a very fine
steamer, which had been taken up by the Admiralty
for the conveyance of stores to North America, at-
tended with a melancholy sacrifice of life. The ill-
fated ship was the Spartan, an iron screw steamer
of 1,070 tons, recently built under special survey by
Messrs. Pyle and Co., of Hartlepool, fitted with
four watertight bulkheads, and was classed A 1
for 13 years. Having been brought up to the
Thames, she proceeded to Deptford dockyard, and
snipped a large quantity of stores, and eventually
left Falmouth on the 2d February on her first voy-
age, for Halifax and St. John, New Brunswick.
She had on board four passengers, Captain Hands,
of the 63d Regiment, his wife, child, and servant.
From the time of the steamer leaving the Channel
nothing was heard of her until yesterday, when
Messrs. Fleming, of Austin-friars, agents for the
owners, received a telegraphic message from Capt.
Wiggins, the master of the Spartan, to the effect
that she had been lost in the Atlantic. As far as
could be learned, it appeared that the unfortunate
ship
occasionedthe so
full
muchfury
havocthe
amongst
the
which have
vessels traversing the Atlantic, and after the most
fearful rolling and stoving, she sprung a leak, and
at length the crew were compelled to take to the
boats and abandon her. This took place on the 16th
.d, n
February ; but for several days the ship had, been
in the most critical position, andji on the
e d 1 11thh
was struck by a heavy sea, which crushed it. the
saloon, where Captain Hands, i 8
servant were, and all perished by drowning, it is
supposed, with the exception of the servant. About
the same period the chief officer and two seamen
were washed overboard and drowned. As before
stated, the remainder of the crew took to the boats,
and must have suffered much from exposure, The
poor servant girl, who escaped death when the
cabin was crushed in, is reported to have died on
the 21st. How long they were out in the boats has
not transpired, but they were picked up the ship
William Fotheringham, and a telegram from Havre
yesterday afternoon announced their safe arrival at
that port. The Spartan foundered shortly after
she was abandoned. The ship and freight were in-
sured to the extent of £30,000, the bulk of which
was effected at Lloyd's. The cargo of stores was
valued at £30,000.