CYPRUS.

Grey River Argus, Volume 21, Issue 3101, 24 July 1878, Page 2

CYPRUS.

The island of Cyprus, which the telegram informs us is to be ceded for tern* porary occupation by England, is situated directly south of Asia Minor, Cape Andrean, bhe north-east extremity, being about' 120 miles off the coasb of Syria, and the southern point a little over 300 miles N.W. of Alexandra. As regards tha Greek Archipelago, the maritime highway to the Dardanelles, the position of Cyprus is not so strategically important as Candia ; but as a naval station ifc possesses great , advantages, directly commanding the Mediterranean coasfc of Egypt and the Eastern Levant. This will not be bhe first time that this island has been occupied by the English. In fche greafc Crusade, a.d. 1191, it was taken by Richard Cceur-de-Lion, who ceded it to the Knights Templar. Tn 1571, being then one of the islands fiefs of the great Eepublic of Tenice, it was conquered by the Turks, who have held possession to this day. The total area is about 1000 square leagues, and the population, consisting mainly of Greek Christians, has been estimated at about 200,000. In Greek and Roman' mythology Cyprus holds a distinguished place. Upon her shores Venus rose from the sea ; and upon the "cloud-capped Olympus,'? which crowns her mountain range, the mighty Jove sat enthroned, and derived his title of " Olympian" so familiar to the students of the classics. The natural beauties and resources of the island leave little to be. desired. Three-fifths, perhaps, of the whole is mountainous, and the higher slopes are clothed here and there with splendid forests of oak and walnut trees, whilst the olive and vine flourish luxuriantly, although, for commercial purposes, almost entirely neglected. Between the mountain range, which extends the whole length of the extent, and the sea, the country spreads out in magnificent plains, very productive in cereals where cultivated, and yielding . nofc only all kinds of grain, bufc tobacco, flax, cotton, &c. There are also extensive groves of mulberry, and silk of a very fine quality is a staple, although, under existiug Icircumstances, nofc a large product. The climate is considered especially suitable 'to the silkworm, and this industry alone admits of large and lucrative development. The greafc drawback all over Cyprus is the want of water. Thej*e are no rivers worthy of the name, and the few springs frequently dry up during the long summer. Except an occasional thunder shower, no rain falling during the spring, autumn, and summer months. It ia hardly necessary to say that, under the corrupt rnle of the Porte, the natural advantages which we have noted are almost entirely neglected, and that agriculture aud manufacture are carried on with listlessness, just sufficient being done to keep the body and soul of the male population together. The Greek population are indolent and spiritless, and the few Turks are either officials or are occupied in trade or commerce at the sea-ports. The Government spent little or nothing excepl in salaries, and screw a handsome revenue by means of taxation, most burthensome and irritating in its incidence. The chief town is Nicosia, where the Pasha has his official residence, but Larnicais the commercial capital, and there, or in the immediate neighborhood, will probably be the headquarters of the British occupation