"Cyprus As I Saw It In 1879" by Sir Samuel White Baker gives a fascinating firsthand account of the writer's exploration of Cyprus all through the late 19th century. As a seasoned adventurer and explorer, Baker affords readers with a bright and detailed portrayal of the island's landscapes, human beings, and cultural nuances. The book serves as each a travelogue and an ethnographic study, documenting Baker's observations of the local customs, traditions, and social dynamics. Through his keen and insightful observations, Baker delves into the historic context of Cyprus, shedding light on the complicated interplay of impacts from numerous civilizations, which includes the Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans. Baker's narrative skillfully navigates thru the island's geography, imparting readers a glimpse into its herbal beauty and ancient landmarks. He engages the reader with anecdotes, encounters with locals, and reflections at the political and social weather of the time. Beyond the journey element, "Cyprus As I Saw It In 1879" gives a precious historical snapshot, taking pictures the essence of Cyprus in the course of a pivotal period in its records.
Sir Samuel White Baker was an English explorer, officer, naturalist, big game hunter, engineer, author, and abolitionist. In addition, he held the titles of Pasha and Major-General in both the Ottoman Empire and Egypt. From April 1869 to August 1873, he was Governor-General of the Equatorial Nile Basin (now South Sudan and Northern Uganda), which he named the Province of Equatoria. He is most known as the first European to reach Lake Albert, an explorer of the Nile and the interior of Central Africa, and a big game hunter in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. Baker wrote numerous books and published papers. Samuel White Baker was born on June 8, 1821, in London, to a rich commercial family. His father, Samuel Baker Sr., was a sugar merchant, banker, and ship owner from Thorngrove, Worcestershire, with business interests in the West Indies. His younger brother, Col. Valentine Baker, sometimes known as "Baker Pasha," was a British hero in the African Cape Colony, the Crimean War, Ceylon, and the Balkans before being dishonoured by a civilian scandal. Valentine had been successful in gaining popularity in the Ottoman Empire, particularly during the Russian-Turkish War in the Caucasus and the Sudan War from Egypt.
