The habits of living of a Greek family in Cyprus may be gathered from that with which I was staying. Many Greek families, although mixing in free intercourse with Europeans, retained much of their nationality. Their wives very seldom frequented places of diversion, had fewer parties, and, when at home, confined themselves to the gynæceum and nursery, where they were employed in household affairs, and the care of their children. During more than a month, there were two persons only who came and dined in a family way with Mr. Vondiziano, and these were relations. His wife’s brother was preceptor to his eldest girl; and for the three next there was a priest, who taught them to read the New Testament and some homilies, which works were in Hellenic Greek. They learned to write likewise, and I believe a little ciphering. We retired to our separate rooms, generally about seven o’clock at night, and the whole family was often in bed at eight, to rise with the sun next morning.
There is a story of somewhat ancient date, which was told me by Mr. Vondiziano, touching two merchants, Englishmen, who, when residents in Larnaka, finding their affairs unprosperous, resolved to quit the island with éclat. Their names I will conceal out of delicacy to their children. They invited a very large party to a splendid fête, and, in the midst of it, disappeared, and, embarking on board a vessel prepared for the purpose in the roads, they sailed for Europe, leaving their creditors all the spoils in biscuits, wax-candles, and French wines.
I was fortunate enough to procure some antiquities at Larnaka, one of which, of whitest marble, in shape like a tailor’s goose, the handle finished off by two lions’ heads, was dug out of the ruins of Citium, and seemed to intimate that the ancients confined their doors against blasts of wind in the same way that is done now-a-days. It is now in the possession of Newman Smith, Esq. of Croydon Lodge.
Soon after my arrival, the whole island was thrown into commotion, by an event which it will not be amiss to relate, as illustrative of the state of society in Cyprus. The dragoman of the Austrian consul, a Greek by birth, and of the Greek persuasion, but enjoying by his post a Frank protection, had an only daughter twelve years of age, beautiful as the day. Her father, adhering to the customs of his nation, kept her confined to the house, secluding her from the sight of everybody but her relations, and allowing her the privilege of going to mass three times a year only, in company with them, on the grand holydays of their religion. Her charms, however, were the talk of every circle. She was sought for in marriage by several Greek gentlemen; but the father’s ambition led him to hope for still more advantageous proposals, and each suitor was declined in turn.
There was a Ragusan merchant resident in Larnaka, about thirty-five years of age, very rich, and, from his wealth, held in much consideration. He was the brother of one of the consuls. The maiden excited his desires, and he resolved to attempt the illicit gratification of them. The father possessed a little farm in the country, to which he went occasionally to superintend his agricultural business. Constantine, (for that was the Ragusan’s name) had secured in his interests a Turkish woman, who, under the cloak of a suppliant, obtained admission into the house. She made known his passion to the girl, whose vanity was gratified by the admiration of a man so distinguished in her eyes, whilst she felt besides a predilection towards Franks, because they were known to allow their wives greater liberty than the Greeks.
During the absence of the father at his farm, the maid-servant, who was her duenna, betrayed her trust, and Constantine was introduced into the house, where he effected his dishonourable purposes. He repeated his visits, as occasions offered, for some time, until she found herself pregnant. Alarmed at her condition, she informed her lover of it, and begged him to bring her a potion to procure abortion. He soothed her alarms, and desired her to be under no apprehension; assuring her that, in bearing him a child, she would but secure a testimony of their love, and a pledge of the promise he had given her of soon making her his wife.
Her increasing size could not escape the observation of her father, who, unsuspicious of the real cause, was amused with a story of female complaints, for which some old woman’s nostrum was pretended to be applied. Some months passed on in this way, until, on the 8th of February, a few days after my landing on the island, the distressed girl escaped from her father’s house to that of a friend, and there, with tears in her eyes, and overwhelmed with shame and confusion, disclosed her situation.
The news spread like wildfire, and the outcry against Constantine knew no bounds: but, with the assurance of impunity, he appeared at a public ball the same evening, and, as some persons maliciously remarked, was the admiration of the fair sex more than he ever had been. The Greeks, however, in a body, took up the cause, with a determination to make him their victim, unless he rendered ample satisfaction to their injured honour. They made a party affair of it: for, of seven vice-consuls who resided at Cyprus, three were Greek, who held together against those who were of Frank extraction. Constantine was called upon to repair the dishonour done to the young lady, and, through her, to the Greek nation, by marriage. The archbishop of the island was written to, and application was made to the Turkish governor, who put Constantine under arrest, so that he seemed to have no alternative but to comply.
He alleged, however, in excuse of what he had done, that he was not the only one who had enjoyed the favours of the girl—that the father, who lived in concubinage with his maid-servant before the eyes of this young creature, could not expect her to escape the influence of so bad an example. He cited the Germanic law, to which they were both amenable, and by which a fine of money only was awarded to the aggrieved party, in case of seduction, which he was ready to pay. He asserted that he had made no promise of marriage, and, consequently, could not be compelled to take her for his wife. He insinuated that the girl was artful enough to have planned the whole affair, in the hope of thus ensuring herself a good match, aware that, both in the order of events and from her father’s situation and small fortune, she could not expect to be so well married in any other way. Finally, he declared, that, whatever might be the consequence, he repudiated her. He knew, he said, the vindictive spirit of the Greeks; and, if they had resolved on assassinating him, why, let the worst happen: he had made his will, and would abide by the event. Added to all this, several of the inhabitants spoke of the practice the young lady had of secretly going to the house-door, and of saluting young men as they passed by; whilst, whenever she saw ladies coming, she disappeared, as if conscious of doing something improper.
The father and the Greek party, on the contrary side, said that the girl was too young and too innocent to have acted otherwise than from the impulses of nature and the suggestions of her seducer; whilst the go-between, when interrogated, testified to the admission of Constantine only to the house. They produced two rings given by him as tokens of a promise of marriage.