Hence

sorts of ill selected ornaments, the women
of Cyprus are handsomer than those of any
other Grecian island. They have a taller and
more stately figure; and the features, parti-
cularly of the women of Nicotia, are regular
and dignified, exhibiting that elevated cast of
countenance which is so universally admired
in the works of Grecian artists. At present,
this kind of beauty seems peculiar to the
women of Cyprus: the sort of expression ex-
hibited by one set of features may be traced,
with different modifications, in all.
were possibly derived those celebrated models
of female beauty, conspicuous upon the statues,
vases, medals, and gems of Greece; models
selected from the throng of Cyprian virgins,
who, as priestesses of Venus, officiated at the
Paphian shrine. Indefinite as our notions of
beauty are said to be, we seldom differ in
assigning the place of its abode. The same
charms which, in former ages, gave celebrity
to the women of Circassia, still characterize
their descendants upon Mount Caucasus; and,
while we point out the natural residence of
beauty, we may refer to countries where it
never was indigenous. Foremost in the list
of these may be mentioned Egypt. The

CHAP.

II.

CHAP.

II.

a brown colour to the whitest locks, and also tinge their eye-brows with the same hue. The most splendid colours are displayed in their habits, which are very becoming to the girls of the island. The upper robe is always of scarlet, of crimson, or of green silk, embroidered with gold. Like other Greek women, they wear long scarlet pantaloons, fastened round the ankle, and yellow boots, with slippers of the same colour. Around the neck, and the head, they wear a profusion of gold coins, chains, and other trinkets. About their waist they have a large belt or zone, hanging very low, and fastened in front by two large and heavy polished brass bucklers, or bosses1; some of which we saw nearly as large as a barber's bason. They endeavour to make the waist appear as long as possible, and the legs, consequently, short. Naturally corpulent, they take no pains to diminish the size of their bodies by lacing, but seem rather vain of their bulk; exposing their breasts, at the same time, in a manner highly unbecoming. Notwithstanding the extraordinary pains they use to disfigure their natural beauty by all

(1) See “Douglas on the Remains of Antient Customs among the Modern Greeks," for a proof of the antiquity of this kind of ornament. The two bosses thus worn by Greek women are shaped like antient shields, and are so placed as to suggest, by their critical situation, a notion of their being worn as bucklers of protection.

sorts of ill selected ornaments, the women
of Cyprus are handsomer than those of any
other Grecian island. They have a taller and
more stately figure; and the features, parti-
cularly of the women of Nicotia, are regular
and dignified, exhibiting that elevated cast of
countenance which is so universally admired
in the works of Grecian artists. At present,
this kind of beauty seems peculiar to the
women of Cyprus: the sort of expression ex-
hibited by one set of features may be traced,
with different modifications, in all. Hence
were possibly derived those celebrated models
of female beauty, conspicuous upon the statues,
vases, medals, and gems of Greece; models
selected from the throng of Cyprian virgins,
who, as priestesses of Venus, officiated at the
Paphian shrine. Indefinite as our notions of
beauty are said to be, we seldom differ in
assigning the place of its abode.
The same

charms which, in former ages, gave celebrity
to the women of Circassia, still characterize
their descendants upon Mount Caucasus; and,
while we point out the natural residence of
beauty, we may refer to countries where it
never was indigenous. Foremost in the list
of these may be mentioned Egypt. The

CHAP.

II.

CHAP.

II.

Gardens of
Larneca.

statues of Isis, and the mummies, preserve at
this hour a form of countenance which is
common to the females of that country; nor
did the celebrated Cleopatra much differ from
the representation thus afforded, if the portrait
of her upon Mark Antony's medals may be
considered as authority. There are some coun-
tries (for example, Lapland) where it might
be deemed impossible to select a single instance
of female beauty. Here, it is true, the degraded
state of human nature explains the privation.
But among more enlightened nations, a traveller
would hardly be accused of generalizing in-
accurately, or partially, who should affirm that
female beauty was rare in Germany, although
common in England; that it exists more
frequently in Russia than in France; in Finland,
than in Sweden; in Italy, than in Greece;-that
the Irish women are handsomer than the Spanish ;
although learned antiquaries assure
were originally of Pelasgian origin.

us both

The gardens of Larneca are very beautiful, and constitute the only source of amusement which the women of the place seem to possess. They are, however, no ornament to the town, being inclosed by high walls. Almost every house has its garden the shade and verdure thus afforded is a delightful contrast to the glare of a white

In CHAP

and dusty soil, everywhere seen around.
these gardens we noticed two sorts of jasmine,
one common in European countries, and the other
a native of Syria; a beautiful variety of Iris;
and some other plants esteemed for their flowers;
the double-blossomed pomegranate, a most
beautiful shrub; also lemons, oranges, plums, and
apricots. The Phaseolus Caracalla, kept in the
green-houses of the Seraglio gardens at Constan-
tinople, flourished here in the open air. They
had also the Arbutus Andrachne, growing to an
enormous size. Beneath these trees, affording
almost the only shade known in this part of
the island, the inhabitants assemble in small
parties; where, seated upon mats, they regale
themselves with fruit and wine, listening to their
national songs. These are sung by itinerant
musicians, hired for the occasion, who accom-
pany their voices with the wretched scraping of
an instrument still called a Lyre. It is shaped
so as to resemble the Testudo, or Tortoise-shell,
from which it was derived: and it has its
original complement of three strings, whence
the Asiatic Lyre received its appellation of the
Tpxopdos its whining, plaintive tone, bespeaks
its Lydian origin, even in its modern state: it
is played like a violin, resting on the left knee,
with a short horse-hair bow, answering to the
antient plectrum. There is a manufactory of these

II.