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Virgin within the church； at the same time offering a certain sum for
the benefit of the establishment。 The friction of constant and
oft…repeated kissing at length began to tell upon the sacred effigy； and
it became almost worn out； it was therefore determined that a beautiful
silver…gilt Virgin and Child should be supplied by a first…rate artist
which should cover the original relic within。 This was remarkably well
executed by Cornaro； and a small aperture like a keyhole of a door has
been left； which is covered by a slide； this is moved upon one side when
required； and enables the pilgrim to kiss through the hole a piece of
rather brown…looking wood； which is the present exhausted surface of the
effigy。
Although decayed by time and use； the miraculous property remains
unchanged。 This was exhibited a few years ago in a remarkable manner；
where a childless lady had become old in barren expectation； but a visit
to Trooditissa produced the desired result； and conferred much happiness
upon the once despairing wife； who now became a mother。 In addition to a
monetary offering； this lady had presented the Virgin with a handsome
belt with massive silver…gilt buckles； which she had worn during
pregnancy。 This offering is now suspended around the present effigy； and
for a small consideration any lady applicant is allowed to fasten it
round her waist。 The effect is infallible； and quite equals that of the
rock and silver Virgin。 This remarkable inductive power may perhaps be
some day explained by philosophers； but it is now exceedingly dangerous；
and unfortunate results have occurred； when in a sudden impulse of
devotion young maidens have kissed the rock entrance to the cave； or
imprudently pressed their lips upon the sacred effigy。
During my sojourn at Trooditissa no arrivals of despairing wives
occurred； but in the exhausted conditions of the finance throughout the
island； it would have been the height of folly to have desired an
increase of family； and thereby multiply expenses； possibly the
uncertainty respecting the permanence of the English occupation may
deter the ladies； who may postpone their pilgrimage to the monastery
until their offspring should be born with the rights of British
subjects。
I have described the origin of the ecclesiastical retreat at Trooditissa
as nearly as possible according to the viva…voce history related by the
monks。 It is impossible to gauge the opinions of the world； as
individuals differ as much in nervous structure and in theological
creeds as they do in personal appearance； some may accept the monks'
belief implicitly； while others may suggest that the original occupant
of the cave was some unknown hermit secluded from the world； whose
solitary lamp burning before the Virgin had attracted the attention of
the shepherds from the mountain opposite。 The old man may have fallen
down a precipice and died； leaving his lamp still alight； but it would
be unfair to interfere with the original legend； which must remain with
the usual clouds and uncertainties that obscure the tales of centuries。
About 250 feet above the monastery the ridge of a spur afforded a level
space beneath some tall pines which threw a welcome shade； and would
have been a convenient camping…ground。 This spot was occupied by the
roughest of log…huts； which had been erected by a shepherd as his summer
residence when the goats should be driven from the low ground to the
mountain pasture。 This man was originally a Turk； and formed one of a
peculiar sect known in Cyprus as Linobambaki （linen and cotton）。 These
people are said to be converts to Christianity； but in reality they have
never been troubled with any religious scruples； and accordingly never
accommodate their principles to the society of their neighbourhood。 In a
Turkish village the Linobambaki would call himself by a Turkish name； as
Mahomet； or Hassan； &c。； while in a Christian community he would pass as
Michael or Georgy； or by other Greek appellations。 The name 〃linen and
cotton〃 applied to them is expressive of their lukewarmness and
time…serving； their religious professions fluctuating according to the
dictates not of conscience； but personal interest。 It is supposed that
about 1500 of these people exist in various parts of Cyprus； they are
baptised in the Greek Church； and can thus escape conscription for
military service according to Turkish law。 The goatherd upon our
mountain had been a Turkish servant （shepherd） in a Greek family； and
had succeeded in gaining the heart of his master's daughter； whom he was
permitted to marry after many difficulties。 This woman must have been
very beautiful when young； as； in spite of hard work and exposure； she
was handsome at forty； with a pair of eyes that in youth might have been
more attractive than the mysterious light in the hermit's cave。 It is
one of the blessings of fine eyes that they are almost certain to
descend to the children。 Property may vanish； litigation may destroy the
substance of an inheritance； but the eyes； large； soft； and gentle；
which can occasionally startle you by their power and subdue you by a
tear； are the children's entail that nothing can disestablish。 Even when
time has trampled upon complexion； the eyes of beauty last till death。
The children of this Linobambaki and his handsome wife were seventwo
boys of about nineteen and seventeen； and five girls from fourteen to
one and a halfall of whom had the eyes of the mother developed most
favourably。 I cannot well describe every individual of a family： there
were the two handsome shepherd youths who would have made level ground
of mountain steeps； through their power and activity。
〃Right up Ben Lomond could he press；
And not a sob his toil confess。〃
These young fellows matched the goats in clambering up the rocks and
following their wayward flocks throughout the summits of the Troodos
range； and their sisters the little shepherdesses were in their way
equally surprising； in hunting runaway goats from the deepest chasm to
the sharpest mountain…peak。
I hardly know who was our greatest favourite。 There was 〃Katterina〃
（about fourteen） too old to make a pet of； but a gentle…charactered
girl； always willing to please and never out of temper； and even in the
big； hateful； beauty…destroying； high hob…nailed boots she could run up
the mountain soil and clamber like a monkey。 Then came； I believe； our
best favourite； the bright； large…eyed； sparkling child 〃Vathoo；〃 who
was the real beauty of the family； about ten years old； she was full of
life and vigour； a perfect goat upon the mountains； with a most lovely
face that would have charmed Murillo as a subject； with an extreme
perfection of features； a bronzed complexion； but hardly the soft
expression required for a sacred picture； in fact Vathoo was a perfect
little gipsy beauty； with perhaps more devil than angel in her impulsive
character。
Then came the real gentle little face with gazelle…like eyes； 〃Baraksu；〃
about eight years old： followed by a minimum shepherdess； 〃Athena；〃 of
nearly five years old； who climbed the rocks； shouted； and threw stones
at her refractory flock； as though an experienced goatherd of forty。 The
youngest was just able to stand； with a pair of the biggest black eyes；
and a natural instinct for gorging itself with unripe fruits and hard
nuts； which； added to its maternal sustenance that it was still
enjoying； proved the mill…like character of its infantine digestion。 For
two months we thought this young Hercules was a promising boy； until by
an accident we discovered it was a 〃young lady〃 Linobambaki！ When we
arrived at Trooditissa these children were in rags and filth； but under
the tutelage of my wife they quickly changed； and the never…failing
fountain； assisted by a cake of soap supplied occasionally； effected a
marked improvement in all complexions。
They were remarkably well…mannered after the first natural shyness had
worn away； and formed a contrast to children of a low class in England
in never misbehaving when intimate。 All these little creatures were
employed in cleaning and improving the place； even the minute Athena
might be seen carrying a great stone upon her small shoulder； adding her
mite to the work； and rubbing the galled spot as she threw down her
load。 The bright threepenny pieces were in great favour； and the
children invariably hastened to their mother with their earnings at the
close of the afternoon。 When the camp and monastery surroundings were in
perfect order there was no longer any remunerative employment for the
family； except the uncertain and occasional work of collecting wild
flowers for the tent and table。 The myrtles bloomed in early July； and
in the deep ravine by the waterfall the oleanders were then still in
blossom。 Several plants which were strange to me were added to the
collection； the days were generally passed by the children in minding
the numerous goats until the evening； when each child brought some
simple offering of flowers。 We bought sheep from the low country at
about six or seven shillings each； and Vathoo was the special
shepherdess of our small flock； for which she was responsible； they