The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-08
CYPRIAN EXPERIENCES.
Disco mf0rts 0f Life at Larnaca-A Bath
In PnbIlc-CurIOus Females.

A correspondent Of the London Daily Neps
writes from Larnaca, Cyprus English people
are still leading sort OF camp-lfe here.
There are, 1t Is true, one or two establish
meuts digntied with the name OF hotels, but
that is all | can say about them. The alter
native Is to put up at the house Of Greek,
and 1t Is not difficult matter to find enter
prising natives willing to inhabit their cellars
themselves II they can only get Englishmen
to rent the few rooms OF their houses. II the
stranger agrees to be boarded" as well, he
deserves no little compassion for what he
will have to endure A days experience at q
house of the description referred to may show
to some extent the ways and customs OF the
people. Early In the morning, generally be-
fore sunrise, the whole household Is astral
least the native element In IL. What with
this the shouting Of the donkey men bring
ing water across the courtyard, and the heavy
Gathering of the hoofs Of masters and ami
mails alike on rough stones, added to the
clacking and shrieklng Of half dozen women
who argue and quarrel about the most trivial
matter, sleep after an early hour Is impossi-
BILE. So the Engishman rises from his lowly
couch flor the boards OF his bed give way
persistently in the night, and he passes the
remainder OF his time rolled in sheet on the
floor and proceeds to dress. He plunges into
his bath. but, alas there Is no water In 1t;
they have forgotten that While he dons q
few garments to go out and make his de-
mand, harsh. squeaing voice Mt the shutters
A pair of dark eyes may be seen peering
through chink In the shutters. and as the
inmate energies from his room he finds one OF
the women intently gazing through the shut
ter still. He explains that 1t Is water that he
wants, and several Of them go off together &c
bring 1t. 1t appears he forgot to fasten the
door as he went back tohis bath, for In comes
two Of the women without any warning. one
argument can get rid OF them for some
minutes. but finally the coffee is deposited on
n chair-there is no tabie-and once more our
friend is alone. But he is not left quiet for
long, for tho eyes continue to appear at the
shutters and door until he stuffs up the aper-
lures with brown paper. Breakfast time
comes. Some grapes q loaf OF bread without
plate, a cup Of coffee and some sugar. in an
old condensed milk tin, are placed before him
1t is with much difficulty that they are told
An egg Is brought. half cooked: they throw
down oil on the table by the grapes. It Is ex-
| planned that In England we, as a rule, use
spoons for eggs also. But one OF the women
assures her guest that that Is nothing that
eggs are eaten In Cyprus differently. Suiting
the action to the word. she dexterously de
nudes the half OF the egg of its shell
and takes bite or long lick until the part
exposed has disappeared. Then she places the
rest beside the unfortunate victim. While the
meal goes on as 1t may, the harpies seat
| themselves on each side OF their guest, and
remark every movement. Occasionally they
partake of the lesson administered to the
myriads Of flies and move away. but only IL
return again with shrieking and shouting.
Greek apparently thinks that raising his
voice to the utmost Is the only way to make
an Englishman understand him. The same
difficulties have recounted have to be en-
dured at every meal. 1t is either no plates OF
else score. no spoon or fork or else enough
for a dinner party. Repeated experience
teaches the natives nothing. They will not
learn. 1t is always tomorrow with them
They promise to do ever ything tomorrow =
day which never appears on their calendar
The curiosity and inqusitiveness OF tbs
Greeks will always have to be endured while
yo .h occupy any portion Of one 81 their houses
a Thousand years would never teach them t.
Keep their hands off your property, or at least
70 Keep out OF your rooms. The women arc
| rather To be pitied. They lead idle. aimiess
| lives, without any kind of recreation, pleas
ute or intellectual occupation. It Is very
doubtful, too II they would read books ever
1t they had them. They care nothing fol
what they have not the capacity to under