Statement showing the return of imports into Larnika of Cyprus during the year 1861. Quan Value. Quan. Value. Quan. Value. Quan. Value. Q'y. Val. Quan. Val. 1,704 4,260,000 2 5,000 23 82,500 4 10,000 ..... Packages. 1,743 P ckages. 1,743 30,260 4,357,500 103,200 1,032,000 ..do. ..... .... ........ .... .... 103, 200..do. .... 2,580 7,167 209,440 1,032,000 Rice.......... do. ..do. 20,940 198,560 645,320 .... 1,600 5,200..do. .... 200, 160 ..do. ..... 5,004 4,517 6.50, 520 157,050 51,310 379,170 7,110, 81,765 17,000 Dozen.. Do............... .. 110 127, 260 20,120 Iron ...................do...] 3,440 10,320 11,650 194,700 82,500 655,600 200 34,950 6,600 680 ... Bar tin.................................. Copper vessels. ...do. 1,615 48,450 750 .do... 3,860 96,500 4,470 119,250 350 22,500 8,750 .... Butter do. 6,615 96, 22.5 300 4.500 3,000 95 19,000 Mats... 516 154,800 .... Soda............... Barrels. 50 58,000, .... 21 21,000 .... ..... Hides, bullock.... Pieces.. 6,430 482, 250 ......... ........ .... Mats..... Baked peas........... Baskets. 3,030, 378,750 .... Wheat . Kilos... 45,700 1,142, 500 Baskets 3,030 Baskets 3,030 2,630 378,750 45, 700 Bushels 45,700 .... ... 7,934 Lead, small shot... Okes 29.030 Total 10,633, 104 1,684,820 449,900 95.800 585,005 27,900 64 19, 200 8,700 Okes..... Tons..... 29,080 Cwt ..... 727 633 1,142,500 91,200 104 Tons.... 104 216 31,200 3,350 7,472 1,075,915 21,825 93,06 13,402, 555 I have the honor herewith to transmit a copy of a report on the ancient_port of Famagusta, made by the captain of a French steamer, who is the first European commander that has entered this abandoned harbor since it fell into the hands of the Turks three centuries ago. My colleague, the French consul, kindly offered me the report, which has excited the interest of the French government to that degree that permission was asked of the Sublime Porte to make a survey of the port, as also the old city of Famagusta, still in a great state of preservation, and the best fortified city of the East. This survey has just been completed by a government vessel, and I hope to procure the plans, &c., which I shall forward to the department. The information and details, given with great exactitude in this paper, may be of use to United States vessels in these waters, from the fact that a port perfectly secure has been discovered, and is accessible to vessels that seek in vain for a safe harbor on the Syrian coast. The Turkish government now proposes to remove the debris with which it is encumbered, rather with a view to the discovery of the treasures of the Genoese and Venetian fleet (the latter having been sunk with immense treasure on its capture by the Turks in 1571) than for political or commercial objects. Had the efforts of the United States government been directed to this island, instead of Marmoretza, it is probable that European jealousy would not have proved an insuperable obstacle to its acquisition, and the Mediterranean would no longer be literally a "European lake.' To the Consul of France, at Cyprus: LARNIKA, February 12, 1861. I have the honor to inform you that the port of Famagusta, mentioned in Mr. Baudin's "Partutan of the Mediterranean" as being entirely closed, is in reality accessible to ships of a certain capacity. The bar, or sand bank, situated 80 metres from the entrance, is the spot where there is the least water on entering the port. On this bank, at low water, there are 2 me. 90, and at high tide 3 m. 20. It is seldom that a commercial vessel of four to five hundred tons draws more than 3 m. when entirely empty. This port is accordingly an excellent shelter to careen a vessel. The harbor is sheltered by a chain of rocks, on which are the ruins of an old pier. The anchorage there is very good, and only exposed to the north and northeast winds, which cause but a slight swell. Anchorage may be obtained at 14, 10, 8, or 6 metres, according to necessity. The nearer to the entrance of the port the greater the shelter. Ön looking for anchorage care should be taken of the reefs, which extend about three miles. At a little expense the pier now destroyed by age might be reconstructed; neither would it be expensive to dredge the harbor, and make it a very fine and safe one. Even in its present state this port could be of great service to damaged vessels, for it is the only one on the Syrian sea, except Alexandria, where a vessel could careen. Vessels of larger dimensions, on entering this harbor, must be heedful of the bank, which is 80 metres from the entrance, and on which there are but three metres of water at low tide; and on account of a strong current in the channel, which is very narrow and partially obstructed by the pier, which has slid down. Notwithstanding this, there is in the middle a space of ten to twelve metres in which there is three metres of water at low tide. In the space between the entrance and the city gate there is three metres to three metres and sixty centimetres of water at low tide. The Stella, in which I entered, is sixty metres in length, and drew then three metres, and she did not touch either in entering or leaving the harbor. A dozen large vessels could easily be harbored in the port of Famagusta. I entered the port of Famagusta on the 1st of February; shortly afterwards an easterly squall occurred, during which the English brig Isabella Dorothea struck on the reefs which protect the harbor, at 11 p. m. I picked up the whole crew, which, fortunately, saved itself in a life-boat, which was in such a bad state that it immediately swamped on their arrival on board. On February 4 the Arabian hermaphrodite brig called the on endeavoring to enter, struck the pier and sprung a leak. I immediately sent out a cable and went aboard with all my crew, but our efforts only succeeded in bringing them into the channel, where she went aground, thus permitting us to save her cargo, which, without this, would have been lost. After having accomplished this, the vessel then being entirely empty, I brought my steamer close to her, and by means of powerful tackling I raised the hull, towed it into port to repair and set it afloat, but she was stove both at the bow and stern, and I did not have the necessary apparatus and mechanics aboard to repair her. The fortifications of Famagusta are well preserved. The city could easily be reconstructed, for the stones, already cut, are on the spot. The stones for the pier would be found in the ruins of ancient Sal, which is only distant one league by sea. I would be very happy, Mr. Consul, if the information I give you could be of some use. I guarantee its correctness, and I beg you to accept the assurance of my respectful sentiment. ED. RÉGNIER, Captain of the Stella. |