August 1, 1878…
There is an article in the British newspaper "Fife Herald" entitled "The Cypriot women". He mentions what Cypriot women look like, what they wear and what their occupations are. Basically, the columnist gives his first impressions about the Cypriot women that the British met and describes in the "Pall Mall Gazette".
"Excellent housewives, plump…"
The British occupation of Cyprus in July 1878, created a strong but fleeting global interest in the island and our people. During the first months, several correspondents arrived on the island, reporting to the British, European and American press.
The relevant article of the "Fife Herald" states: "Cypriot women are excellent housewives and their daughters easily learn to sew and rub until the stone from the wide steps of their front door shines like alabaster!"
Regarding their external appearance…
Through the text one can imagine the Cypriot plump ones with long hair gathered low with rubber bands full of beads. They wear simple, big shirts and Cypriot panties. However, their naked and "flabby" bodies, as he states, did not prevent them from hunting their domestic animals (goats, poultry, pigs) "with incredible speed that befits boys!".
Although some of the comments of this particular writer were somewhat ironic…
Almost all the publications of that time agree with each other: full-figured women, with long hair, hardworking and hard-nosed. Also, a report at that time states that many Britons wrote in their diary that they wanted to get married in Cyprus but never dared to ask. "Most of them were not easy to approach, we admired them from afar," says one soldier. These were the Cypriots of the 19th century.
In the photo is a family from the village of Avgorou in 1878. We thank Mr. Tassos P. Tassos, author of the book "Avgorou".