The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-10-04
The Races OF Cyprus.

The two races that inhabit the country
are very distinct types. The Turks are
tall, well built men, generally spared and
active. The great characteristic that DIS
tinguishes them from the Greeks Is their
proud bearing. They all have certain
reserved expression on their faces, evil
IDENTIFY thinking well of themselves. They
are not at all fanatical about their relig-
ion, and although good Moslems, they do
not share in the sterner precepts OF the
law of Mahomet They work better than
the Greeks, are more inclined to take an
interest in what is being done, but are
also more independent and less submls-
sive under reproof 1t is rare to find the
turks iRhospitable; they are generally
very obliging at first. For instance, |
have been told at a village that every
thing would be provided for nothing;
that / must accept their politeness, not
only in words of politeness, but really
intending that | should live on them.
After refusing such offers, it is strange TO
be cheated in the price of barley and
chickens; but it is Turkish and Oriental.
They generally have receding foreheads,
whereas the Greek forehead is straight;
and the dark Nubians and the semi-Nu-
bians have domed foreheads. They pre-
fer white and red striped Manchester
stuffs for their clothes, whereas the
Greeks are almost always dressed in the
blue indigo-dyed stuffs of home manu-
facture. They are brave, fearing and
looking up to no one, making splendid
soldiers, and are peaceful, moderately
honest and industrious. The Greeks are
also fine made men. They have mild
and humble expression of countenance,
and are timid. They hide in the villages
as Government official passes through
without any real cause. They are very
religious, generally going to church
evening and keeping great number of
saints days, and believing every super
stitious story. They are stupid, and are
bad workers, Sinking as much as they
can. They like shilling day, but
after two or three days they are inclined
to strike for three shillings. They are
rich enough to lie in the sun and do
nothing for long time, and they object
to working when they become such capi- |
talists. There are brigh. exceptions to |
this rule-energetie Greeks. who are bet
ter sometimes than stupid Turks; but the |
great test of stamina, the keeping at con-
tinual steady work, breaks them all |
down. They are not nearly so intelli- |
gent or such good workers as the Maron- |
ties and Druses of the Lebanon. The |
women of both races are not at all pre- |
possessing; it is rare to see face even I
tolerably good looking, and their figures
and voices are very Objectionable. The
Turkish women veil their faces, which is
an advantage. The women do a great
deal of manual labor-fetching water,
their lords to the corn;
they help in everything except plongh-
ing and sowing. It is odd to see the
parties in the fields reaping, almost al
ways one man to two women. both Greek /
and Turkish alike. The children are
pretty, some with faxen hair and cherub
faces. The Turkish children are not
nearly SO pretty rs the Greek.-From
% Notes Of Ggp,7as, in Bkqc6seoods haga-
zine for Augvst.