‘Cyprus.’ [‎36r] (71/184)

DESC1UPTI0N OF THE COAST, ETC.
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CHAPTER V.
Description of the Coast,* Anchorages, Roadsteads, Ports,
and Harbours of Cyprus.
The Bay of Famagusta is about 25 miles wide from Cape Elrea at Famagusta,
the north extremity, to Cape Greco at the south ; it enters the land
about nine miles. The bay is very deep, the Admiralty Chart
shows soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. of 200 fathoms over the whole of the outer part.
The holding ground is described as bad,t and the anchorage is open
to east and south-east winds. Large vessels anchor about 1,700
yards off the town of Famagusta in about 17 fathoms, stiff mud;
inside 12 fathoms the bottom is rock and sand. Small vessels can
obtain good anchorage, in three or four fathoms, close to the town,
inside of a reef that runs parallel to the shore. This inner harbour
was once deep and spacious, but is now choked with sand and
mud, and the entrance is narrowed by stones fallen from a ruined
lighthouse. About four and a-half miles to the northward of
Famagusta is the ancient port of Salamis, now only a shallow
basin ; in the roadstead abreast of it is good anchorage in 10 to 16
fathoms with mud bottom.
Although this account of Famagusta Harbour shows it to be
certainly at present in a bad condition, and quite unfit for use by
war vessels, it is equally apparent, according to all reports, that
should it be cleared out, its safety as a port would be beyond all
doubt, for it is encircled by a tongue of land, with a series of rocks
in continuation of it; and at a distance of 500 yards from the ram
parts, and, parallel to the coast, runs a line of rock ledges, which
gradually dip into the sea towards the north, commencing at a
height of 13 feet above the water line, and falling to 18 feet below
it. These rocks are of schist, the same formation as are the three
small islands which close in the port to the east. These islands, if
joined by a causeway, the construction of which would not be a
difficult matter, would form the southern boundary of the harbour.
The northern side is protected by a jetty which runs out to a
length of 170 yards at right angles to the shore, leaving an en
trance to the harbour, about 35 yards in width. It is stated that
this jetty requires but little repair, except at a breach made by
* The Coast is described commencing at Famagusta on the eastern shore, then
along the south coast in a westerly direction, up the western side, along the north
coast from west to east, and so round the island.
f Laurie’s “ Mediterranean Directory,” page 162.
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