The present state of England. Part III. and Part IV. containing I. an account of the riches, strength, magnificence, natural production, manufactures of this island, with an exact catalogue of the nobility, and their seats, &c., II. the trade and commerce within it self, and with all countries traded to by the English, as at this day established, and all other matters relating to inland and marine affairs : supplying what is omitted in the two former parts ...

CHAP. LIII. A View of the Isle of Cyprus, the Trade, Growth, Weights, Mea∣sures, and Currant Coyns thereof.

CYprus so Famous in History, feigned by Poets of old, to be the residence of the Goddess Venus, is Situate in the Syrian Sea, and is a Part of Asia, being in length 200 Miles and in breadth 65, abounding in plenty of Cattle, Corn, Oyl, Wine, Sugar, Cottons, Honey, Wool, Turpentine, Allum, Verdigrease, Grograms, Salt, and abundance of other Commodities; but e∣specially in Cyprus Wood, and has for it's chief Cities Paphos, Famogusta, Nicotia, Lescara, Salines, &c. in which the Eng∣lish have a Factory for the Cotton Trade, the English Consul Resident in Aleppo, be∣ing imputed Consul of Syria and Cyprus, and hath under him a Vice-Consul, that manages the Trade of this Island for the English, who bring hither in exchange the Growth of our Country, and such o∣ther Commodities as are Vendible and most coveted by the Natives. Hither it is the

Levant Merchants Trade for most part of their precious Commodities. As for the Coyns in use they are those of the Grand-Signior, and in the same their Accounts are kept, for a View of which I shall refer the Reader to the Description of the Trade of Constantinople.

The Weight most in use is the Dram, of which 750 make a Rotolo, 100 of which make a Cantar greater by 4 in the 100 then the Cantar of Aleppo, and at Famo∣gusta there is a Cantar in use that is great∣er then the common Cantar of Cyprus by 4 in the 100; and consequently larger then that of Aleppo 8 per cent. tho sometimes the Weights vary, yet not much.

The Measures of length are two sorts, viz. the Pico and Brace, the former is Accounted 26 ½ Inches, and by this they Measure Woolen Cloath, Silk, and the like, the Brace for Linnen Cloath is 1/••6 long∣er then the Pico.

Their Concave Measure for Wine is the Cuss, 7 of which make 6 Fletchers of Venetia, or a Candy Barrel; so that a Cuss and half, and a Zant Jarre are equal in quan∣tity; the Oyl that is found here is sold by the Rotolo, each Rotolo being Accounted 1000 Drams. Corn of which there is store is sold by the Moose, 2 and a half of which

weigh one Staio of Venetia; by this Mea∣sure Salt is likewise sold. They have like∣wise a Measure for Grain called a Cossino: And thus much for Cyprus, and indeed for all Asia; this being the last place I intend to visit in this part of the World, and from whence I intend to Sail for Europe; only by the way I shall give the Reader an insight into the goodness, and as near as possible the true Value of Silver, Gold, and precious Stones; which will not be a∣miss, seeing I so lately left the Coasts where those things which are so generally coveted are acquired.