Abstract
THIS, we venture to think, is really the most important and useful contribution to a knowledge of our new dependency that has been published since the surprise was announced. Mr. Lang's long residence in the island and his position there have given him exceptional advantages to acquire a thorough knowledge of it in all its aspects. He has, moreover, made diligent research into the history and antiquities of the classical island, and has succeeded in presenting in this volume a clear and instructive account of these. Mr. Lang maintains that Cyprus must have had a somewhat civilised population before the arrival of either Greek or Phœnician colonists, and that the remains of early writings which have been discovered prove these earlier inhabitants to have been Aryan, and not Semitic, and probably of the same parent stock as the Greeks. About one-half of the work is devoted to the history of the island. In the chapter devoted to agriculture and produce Mr. Lang shows that, in this respect, the capabilities of the island are very large, and that, with improved systems, it might really be made one of the most fruitful of our dependencies. He himself made long experiments in farming, and with the most satisfactory results; and for intending settlers in the island this part of his work will prove of much value. Mr. Lang gives a condensed account of M. Gaudry's researches on the minerals of the island; but our knowledge of its geology is by no means satisfactory, and we trust with Mr. Lang that no time will be lost in getting a thorough geological survey of the island. The chapters on archæology and rock tombs and their contents are of special interest; and of great practical value is the chapter devoted to “my farm in Cyprus.” Mr. Lang is very hopeful of the results of this annexation. One of the most interesting results, so far, in our opinion, is his own work on the island. The five beautiful maps by Stanford add much to the scientific value of the work.
Cyprus: its History, its Present Resources, and Future Prospects
By R. Hamilton Lang. Illustrations and Maps. (London: Macmillan and Co. 1878.)
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cyprus: its History, its Present Resources, and Future Prospects . Nature 18, 693 (1878). https://doi.org/10.1038/018693a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/018693a0