New-York tribune., 1878-11-22
EYCAVATING IN CYPRUS.
WHAT GEN. CESNoLA SAYS ABOUT IT

WHAT GEN. CESNOLA SAYS ABOUT III.
OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF SEARCHING FOR
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. LAWS AND TIE INGENIOUS
METHODS FOR EvADING THEM.
w. Hepworth Dixon has recently written
long letter to an English paper describing an exciting
scene in Cyprus in which Major Cesnoa the brother ol
General Cesnola played the chief part MI Dixon mas
been the guest OF Major Cesnola for some time whe re-
covering from the effects OF broken coIl'r-
bone, in consequence OF having been thrown
from horse. The house where MAYOR
Cesnoia lives is in Ormida. and was formerly the
private country residence OF General Cesnoa
According to Mr.. Dixon's account, an English omcer
with four Turks came from TIE ncighborlng IOWA ol
Iarnaca which is in different district from ormnia
TO the house of Major Cesnola ana accused
him OF breaking the law by excavatlng LOT
antiquities. An exciting scene enSncd' MAYOR
CesnOa demonstrated but without avail Flnay' upon
the assurance Of Mr. Dixon that the accused man would
appear when wanted the officials rode or after placing
seal upon the doors ana windows leading from the
room in which the Major had few vases and other
articles he had dug up. The men, however. returned,
arrested Major CesnOa, and he lined small sum,
which remitted.
General Ccsnola was seen yesterday, and was asked
whether he over had any difficulty in excavatng on the
island. aud what he knew about the course OF lis
"scme live years ago" said General Ces-
nola my brother in South Anerlca, where
he had gone for some reason, being nJ the
time captain IN the Italian marines. l invited
hm TO come 10 NewYork, ana while here 1 asked him
10 20 with me to Cyprus. He consented and went to
Cyprus with me rs my lccconsul. | do not Know
whether he is nauralized American citizen not IL
is not necessary for yicc-cOusul 10 be natural
ized citizcn OF the country which he repre-
sens have had Greek and Turk Tor Ylce-consniS.
Ny brother was viccconsu ut Paphos. He stayed with
me only year thereabous, and In $50, think.
advised hnn L. 20 to England to learn the Eugsh IAN
guIge. He went to Engand but returned 10 Cyprns
when took my second leave Of absence IN 1876 while
consulshp was abolished, and have never returned
My brotner however, stayed nrre anu mas Deen eAcn
waiting the interest Of some English societies or per
SONS hs defence tie states that nc IL an American
citizen aud ne may ne; BHI eTe g Tas abroad
(hIs Is the law, at least win ltayl lO tfee years hhu
there evidence that he intends To remain abroad he
loses the rgnt OF protec Ion rom lhe nos'rheh IH'
fact came to my notice when was CONSUL .
The probability Is that the English, who, through
their mrinuess lost my collections of antiquities, are
trying TO get their revenge out or my brother Ihe IN
preston. however which SIR Dixon gives, that my
brother shared In the discovery OF the treasures dt
Cuum aud the TOmbs OF Dali Is wrong; Tor ne was
in Cyprus, but was in England when the treas
ure were discovered The intention OF this seems to he
To- give the credit OF the discoveries ia ,ypiIs 10 my
was merely assistant The question at issue ia a..
case seems to be "a to Nhcthtr ne mas Hauc hmscl
omcuaIe 10 the laws OF the island And on tins topic
INV expe. .ience may be interesting. was In cyprus
from G5 10 20 aud the law which had always existed
u,s mat no one should dig Tor antiquities without
prrlnission from the Tarkish Goyelnment. Before
Cyprus The French ana G'5,nan ia n"ETgnnenJs
after arrived l applied TO the American Legation at
Constantnoe ana sos h,n is,rc Icou cc ann1 .iIT
cuIlCd sfoncs'- e. sAtueS-were found IN duplicates,
e ,vos IN 20 10 the Turkish Government. Until 1874
aug under these conditions, tn the complete sasLac-
non Of myself and the TURKISH GOVcTnmeht. In 1874
made n nresent to that Government which was duly
sdgrd OF sixty eases Of Antiquities Instead OF
having the desired ccC the present caused an entire
S,u i'm Inc laWhc very thing that was 10 be avoided
Ia e. never found any duplicates ~ statues. and the
Inspection OF the collections was mere formay The
law sas changed, that atterNard permission had to be
iTo,ncd frum the Turkish Minister OF Public Insruc
fon and this the law which he English are trylngtO
enforce against brother 1hls law was to the ehect
that II one were digging on public lands, twothrds of
the found or their Haao were 70 go 20
and one-third 20 the dlscOVerer. tbe Rrouhu
which was being excaYaled' Was private, one
third oi o., thS ,bs land, one'third TO the erca-
yator and one-third To tue Turkish Government
"tS,Tds of What was found. Not content with this,
the sultan compelled the e&chvator 10 pay an inspector
DuTng ali tins time the peasants were continually Dig
gng everywhere and bringing what they found to the
lies This continued until the arrival Of the English
r. wa. an outrage to open the house And the
Of English officers directing In ksh police on an
would have done All, had they come that way me
| would have told them 10 clear out or would shoot
them The Turks are curious people, and hayo 10 be
treated in peculiar way. understood them so
tnoroughly that was once told that ought TO be
Turk. They make all thcir arrangements ana then,
when IL their benefit to change, deny that such
ram uscmcuts were ever made.
- A ludicrous attempt was once made by the English
Consul who was unable to gel permission TO export his
easnrcs to send MS maiDies oi. a. ne hau Tue
and statues srewn along the beach ready To be
nk en- on I'm boats, when one OF drngOnen happened
along, and on learning 70 Wsat use the anluIles Weie
Ia be nut picked up beautiful statue and was going 10
hriug it 10 me. But the consul was on the watch,
and he mad TO give II up. The consul was compelled
10 EXPORT his treasures private property although
being the Of gish Clergyman he had some scru
pies against 50 doing. on another occasion fngate
Engaged TO carry valuable statue some feet In
height In order eyade the Custom House officials Six
sailors went quietly on shore with a stretcher,
and brought the statue carefully covered. past
the officers, who shrugged their shoulders, and
wanted 10 know II the sailor Was dead
or dead drunk sO you see al sorts OF ruses have been
resored TO order escape the vigilance Of the Turk
sh officials so far my brother IL concerned could
wager anything that he has done nothing dshOnorable
and see he Ia entitled 10 the protection
either Of the American OF the Italian Government"