Small Businesses in Cyprus According to the Detailed Cadastral Book 64

Abstract

After the conquest, the cadastral works of the Cyprus State were started on October 9, 1571, and were completed on October 18, 1572. The book that included the cadastral records is the one kept in the General Directorate of Cadastral and Title Deed Works Archives with the number 64. According to the abovementioned book, the small businesses that existed in the Cyprus State were candy production shops, saltworks businesses, mills, tanneries, dyehouses, and soap shops.

The candy production shops in Cyprus were located in Tokyovoli district in Baf County, and in Koloş and Piskopi were located in Limoson district. The ownership of the candy shops belonged to the state, and were run through fiduciary; and then as of 1593, they were run with the uphold system. The annual revenues of these candy shops were 380 000, and nearly all of the candy that were produced here were sent to Istanbul.

The saltwork shops in Cyprus were four in number as three in Baf and one in Tuzla District. The one whose annual revenue was 1950 was located in Baf, the one with 500 annual revenues was located in Lenbe, which was connected to Baf in administrative terms, and Ayayorgi with 40 cash money was located in Isterpoti Hamlet. The other one with an annual revenue of 100 000 was located in Tuzla District. The salt that was produced in the Cyprus State was generally sent to Istanbul. The salt that was more than needed was exported to other countries.

According to the Cadastral Book, there were 206 mills in Cyprus which were distributed as follows; Lefkoşa (19), Mesarye (1), Karpas (6), Girne (8), Pendaye (44), Hırsofu (30), Baf (36), Evdim (15), Limason (37), Mazuto (9) and Tuzla (1). He annual revenue from the mills in Cyprus was 116 255 cash money.

There were tanneries in all of the districts in the Cyprus State -except for Girne and Tuzla. There was one tannery in Lefkoşa, Magosa, Hırsofu, Evdim and Mazuto; two in Mesarye and Karpas; five in Pendaye and Baf; and seven in Limoson, which makes a total of 26 tanneries. The tanneries were run with the uphold system.

According to the Cadastral Book dated 1572, there were three dyehouses in Cyprus State, one of them was in Lefkoşa, the other one was in Magosa Fortress, and the last one was in the city center of Baf. The annual revenue of Lefkoşa Dyehouse was 1500; the revenue of the one in Magosa, which was also the dyehouse of the imperial dynasty, was 4500; and the revenue of the Baf dyehouse was 750 cash money. The dyehouses in Cyprus were run with the uphold system with contracts. It was determined that there were two businesses that dealt with soap production in Cyprus State in the study period. They were run with the uphold system.