The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-10-03
England's New Acquisition.

IL lies IN tue noTtheaStcTH Ddslu VI tnc
Mediterranean, and is about equally dis
tant from the Syrian and Asia Minor
coasts. Its greatest length is 145 miles
and greatest width sixty. The width
suddenly narrows, in longitude 81 deg,
from whence extends northeastery long
narrow tongue of land for Il distance of
over forty-tive miles. The entrance to
the Suez Canal is $50 miles south, and
the island of Malta about 1000 miles
west. The proposed railway from the
head of the Persian Gulf up the Eu
pirates river through Aleppo would be
distant only about 100 miles (half land
and half water). Cyprus thus forming
an important station on that new route to
British India. There is not, however,
good natural harbor on the whole coast.
A large part of the island is occupied by
two mountain ranges, extending in gen
cral direction from east to west. Be
tween the two ranges is n small plain,
known as the Messaria, watered by two
streams, but open and uncultivated.
Corn is grown in some portions of the
plain, and it is believed that the whole
of it might be cultivated.
In antiquity, Cyprus was widely
know for its forests, which for long
time supplied the Greek monarchs of
Egypt with timber tor their fleets. These
forests have now disappeared from plain
and mountains, and it is only the lowell
est peaks that retain their covering of
trees. The rivers have been affected by
the clearing away of the forests, and are
usually dry in summer. AT IA very early
period Cyprus WAS known for its mineral
wealth, and the reputation its copper
mines enjoyed among the Greeks and Ro-
mans gave that metal its Latin name of
Cuprium. Cuprium being n variation
from Cyprium. Early historians record
that it produced considerable quantities
of silver and precious stones. But in
modern times the mineralogy of the is
land has been very little explored. Ger
tain portions are very fertile, and of the
products, besides corn, there are wine,
oil, silk, wool, tobacco and cotton.
Among the ancicnts it was noted tor its
fertility and beauty, and the Venetians
during their occupation carried on an ex-
tensive trade in its natural productions.
The population of the island, under the
Venetians, is said to have been 100000
(though this is regarded as an exaggera-
ton } while it is now placed at only
1876 700, of whom two-thirds are Greeks
and the others, for the most part, are
Turks.
The renown of Cyprus extends through
all ancient and modern history, the earli-
est things known of it dating from the
Ph1nicians, who inhabited the neighbor
ing mainland and colonized the island.
In historical times Greek colonies were
found existing side by side with the Ph9-
nicians, but whether they were there be-
fore or after them is unknown. The first
recorded fact in the history Of this island
is in Herodotus, who relates that it was
conquered in the sixth century b. {. by
King Amasis of Egypt. During the in
vasion of Egypt by Cambyses (525 b.
ca it revolted and declared in favor of
the Persians, becoming thereafter trib-
utary province of that empire.
After the death of Alexander the
Great the possessions of Cyprus was
sought for by several Of his successors,
and it finally passed into the hands of
the Ptolemy, King of Egypt. In (306 b.
c. Demetrius, son of Antigonus, made
an effort to recover it. lie had reduced
the whole of it, when Ptolemy arrived
with fleet and laid siege to the capital
city of Salamia. This led to one of the
most memorable naval fights in ancient
history. Ptolcmy being defeated it fell
into the possession of the Romans, in 5S
BIC Cyprus for the most part remained
in the possession of the Greek rulers of
Egypt. Christianity was introduced by
st. Paul, and ilourished until thirteen
bishoprics had been established on the
island. In III a. ID. the Jews had set
lied there in large numbers, and rose in
revolt against the Roman rule, destroy
ing it is said, 100000 of the Inhabitants.
With the division of the Roman Empire,
Cyprus passed into the possession of the
Eastern emperors, whose subject it was
for more than seven centuries. During
that period it was twice conquered by the
Arabs, once under the reign of Ilaroum
al Raschid, but it was recovered again
each time 10y the Byzantine emperors.
In 1884 a nephew of the reigning SOW
ercign at Constantinople obtained 1t rs
an Independent territory, but eleven years
aftcrward it was taken from him by Rich
ard the Lionhcarted, who gave it to Guy
dc Lusignan, the titular King of Jcrusa-
lem, to compensate him in measure for
the loss of the Holy City. This dynasty
governed Cyprus for nearly three centu
ries, and introduced the feudal system
and other Institutions of the West. After
ward, for about eighty years, the island
was under the control of the Venetians.
In 1870 an army of 10000 Turks landed
ON the island, but it was not until after
years siege that the last town was cap
turcd. Of the inhabitants of the capital
| 90 900 were massacred, and the Governor,