DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0275
HOLY LAND, AND CYPRUS. 241
I have before alluded to : they had been occupied by Lieu-
tenant-colonel Rooke, who had died at Baffa, the ancient
Paphos, a few days before; a gentleman whose memory
seemed to be held in great respect at Cyprus, and whose
inclination for travel had kept him for a long time in the
East, where he lavished large sums in objects of research and
in acts of generosity, endearing him to the natives of the
countries he visited.
Thus settled at Cyprus, I was left to my own resources
for employment, and obliged to remain at Larnica for the
chance of any unforeseen occasion to quit it. I became one
of the family of the vice-consul, and conformed to the un-
wholesome custom of making a heavy meal at mid-day.
The mornings and evenings I passed alone.
I was often amused by the assumed dignity of the dif-
ferent representatives of European nations at Larnica, where
the Austrian, Neapolitan, French, and Spanish consuls had
their residence, and where etiquette of precedency was
pushed to a degree not known in our own country. All
except the French consul were engaged in trade; and of
course their own interest prevailed over that of the country
they represented. The only English merchant on the island
resided at La Scala: he had to contend with the united pha-
lanx of Levantines, who had no inclination to admit a com-
petitor in trade. An Englishman wishing to settle there will
2 I
I have before alluded to : they had been occupied by Lieu-
tenant-colonel Rooke, who had died at Baffa, the ancient
Paphos, a few days before; a gentleman whose memory
seemed to be held in great respect at Cyprus, and whose
inclination for travel had kept him for a long time in the
East, where he lavished large sums in objects of research and
in acts of generosity, endearing him to the natives of the
countries he visited.
Thus settled at Cyprus, I was left to my own resources
for employment, and obliged to remain at Larnica for the
chance of any unforeseen occasion to quit it. I became one
of the family of the vice-consul, and conformed to the un-
wholesome custom of making a heavy meal at mid-day.
The mornings and evenings I passed alone.
I was often amused by the assumed dignity of the dif-
ferent representatives of European nations at Larnica, where
the Austrian, Neapolitan, French, and Spanish consuls had
their residence, and where etiquette of precedency was
pushed to a degree not known in our own country. All
except the French consul were engaged in trade; and of
course their own interest prevailed over that of the country
they represented. The only English merchant on the island
resided at La Scala: he had to contend with the united pha-
lanx of Levantines, who had no inclination to admit a com-
petitor in trade. An Englishman wishing to settle there will
2 I