APPENDIX
INTRODUCTION。
IdonotintendtowriteahistoryofCyprus,asauthoritiesalreadyexistthatarewellknown,butweregenerallyneglecteduntiltheBritishoccupationrescuedthemfromsecludedbookshelves。EvenhadI
presumedtowriteasahistorian,thetaskwouldhavebeenimpossible,asIamatthismomentexcludedfromtheworldintheprecinctsofthemonasteryofTrooditissaamongtheheightsofancientOlympusormodernTroodos,wherebooksofreferenceareunknown,andthenecessarydatawouldbewanting。Ishallrecountmypersonalexperienceofthisislandasanindependenttraveller,unprejudicedbypoliticalconsiderations,andunfetteredbytheresponsiblepositionofanofficial。HavingexaminedCyprusineverydistrict,andpassednotonlyafewdays,butwinter,spring,andsummerintestingtheclimaticandgeographicalpeculiaritiesofthecountry,Ishalldescribe“CyprusasIsawitin1879,“expressingtheopinionswhichIformeduponthespotwiththeresultsofmyexperience。
AlthoughIhavereadmanyworksuponthisisland,IhavenobookswithmeexceptthatinterestingrecordofthediscoveryofantiquitiesbyGeneraldiCesnola,andtheinvaluablecompilationfortheIntelligenceBranch,Quartermaster-General\'sDepartment,HorseGuards,byCaptainSavile,18thRoyalIrishRegiment。Itisimpossibletopraisethelatterworktoohighly,aseveryauthority,whetherancientormodern,hasbeenstudied,andtheinformationthuscarefullycollectedhasbeenclassedunderspecialheadingsandofferedtothereaderinaconciseandgraphicformwhichrendersitperfectasabookofreference。ImustexpressmydeepappreciationoftheassistancethatIhavederivedfromCaptainSavile\'swork,asithasdirectedmyattentiontomanysubjectsthatmighthaveescapedmyobservation,andithasfurnishedmewithdates,consularreports,andotherstatisticalinformationthatwouldotherwisehavebeendifficulttoobtain。ThestudyofM。Gaudrey\'sablereporttotheFrenchgovernmentupontheagriculturalresourcesandthegeologicalfeaturesofCyprus,beforeIcommencedmyjourney,guidedmemateriallyintheinterestingobservationsofthevariousformationsandterrestrialphenomena。TheexperiencesofthelateBritishConsul,Mr。
HamiltonLang,describedinhisattractivevolume,togetherwiththoseofVonLoher,DoctorsUngerandKotschy,haveaffordedmeanadvantageinfollowinguponfootstepsthroughawell-examinedfieldofdiscovery。
BeforeIenteruponadescriptionofmypersonalexaminationoftheisland,itwillbeadvisabletotraceabriefoutlineofthegeographicalpositionofCyprus,whichcauseditsearlyimportanceinthehistoryofthehumanrace,andwhichhasbeenacceptedbytheBritishgovernmentassufficientlyunchangedtowarrantamilitaryoccupationin1878,asastrategicalpointthatdominatestheeasternportionoftheMediterranean,andsuppliesthemissinglinkinthechainoffortifiedportsfromEnglandtotheshoresofEgypt。
Intheworld\'sinfancyoceanswereunknownseasuponwhichthevesselsoftheancientsrarelyventuredbeyondthesightofland;withoutthecompasstheinterminablebluewaterwasaterriblewildernessfullofaweandwonder。ThePhoenicians,whofirstcircumnavigatedAfricabypassingthroughthethenexistingcanalbetweenSuezandtheNile,coastedthewholevoyage,asdidinlateryearsthefamousPortuguese,VascodiGama,andstationswereformedalongtheshoresatconvenientintervals。HannotheCarthaginiancoastedtoanuncertainandcontestedpointuponthewesternshoresofAfrica,butnooceancommercialportwasknowntohaveexistedintheearlydaysofmaritimeadventure。TheMediterraneanofferedpeculiaradvantagesofphysicalgeography;itsgreatlengthandcomparativelynarrowwidthembracedavastarea,atthesametimethatitaffordedspecialfacilitiesforcommerceinthenumerousportsandislandsthatwouldformarefugeinstressofweather。
Thecountrieswhichsurroundedthisgreatinlandseawererich;theclimatethroughoutitscoursecombinedthetemperatewithalmosttropical,accordingtothechangesofseasons;accordingly,theproductionsoftheearthvaryinguponthenorthernandsoutherncoasts,wereallthatcouldberequiredforthenecessitiesofthehumanrace。
Inthishappilysituatedpositioncommercewasfirstcradled,andbytheinterchangeofideasandnaturalproductions,artificialwantsweremutuallycreatedamongthevariouscountriesaroundthegreatseamargin;thesupplyofthesenewrequirementsandexchangeofcommoditiesestablishedtrade。Withthedevelopmentofcommerce,wealthandprosperityincreased;nationsbecameimportantthroughthepossessionofsuperiorharboursandgeographicalpositions,andtheentiremaritimestrengthandcommercialactivityoftheancientworldwasrepresentedbytheMediterranean。ThePhoeniciansofTyreandSidonweretheEnglishofto-day;theEgyptiansandtheGreekswerefollowedastheworldgrewolderbytheVenetiansandGenoese,andthroughouttheworld\'shistorynopointpossessedamoreconstantandunchangeableattractionfromitsgeographicalpositionandnaturaladvantagesthantheislandofCyprus,whichinturnwasoccupiedbyPhoenicians,Greeks,Egyptians,Persians,Romans,Byzantinerulers,Saracens,Byzantinerulersagain,English,Lusignans,Venetians,Turks,andoncemoreEnglishin1878。
Theadvantageswhichhadthuspossessedamagneticinfluenceinattractingtowardsthisislandtheleadingnationsoftheworldwereinancientdaysundeniable。Whenvesselsdirectedtheircourseonlybywell-knownlandmarks,orbythepositionofcertainstars,itwashighlynecessaryforamaritimepowertooccupyacontinuouschainofstations,where,incaseofdangerfromasuperiorforce,aplaceofrefugewouldbenear。CyprusfromitspeculiargeographicalpositioncommandedtheeasternportionoftheMediterranean。TheharbourofFamagoustawasonlyafewhours\'sail,withafavourablewind,tothecoastofAsiaMinor。
ThebaysofLarnacaandLimasolwereroadsteadswithasafeanchorage,andPaphos(Baffo)wasaconvenientharbouruponthesouth-westernportionoftheisland,capableofprotectingaconsiderablenumberofthesmallvesselsoftheperiod。ThusCypruspossessedtwoharboursuponthesouthcoastinadditiontogoodroadsteads;whileuponthenorth,Cerinea(Kyrenia)andSoli,althoughneverlarge,wereserviceableportsofrefuge,exactlyfacingthecoastofCaramania,plainlyvisible。TheloftymountainsoftheCarpasrangewhichoverhangtheseharbourscommandtheseaviewatanelevationofbetweenthreeandfourthousandfeet,fromwhichtheapproachofanenemycouldbequicklysignalled,whiletheunmistakablepeaksoftheruggedsky-lineformedlandmarksbywhichvesselscouldsteerdirecttothedesiredports。ThesameadvantageofdescryinganenemyatadistancefromtheshoreexistsinmanypartsofCyprus,owingtothepositionoftheheights;andtherockynatureofthecoast(withtheexceptionofafewpointssuchasLimasol,MorphuBay,&c。),renderedthelandingofalargeforceextremelydifficult。Asastrategicalpoint,therewasnomoreformidablepositionthanCyprus;itformedacommoncentrewithinimmediatereachofAlexandriaandallthecoastsofSyriaandAsiaMinor。Itwasnotonlyamilitaryplaced\'armes,suchasMaltaandGibraltarnoware,dependentuponmaritimesuperiorityforthenecessaryprovisions,butitwasacountryoflargearea,comprisingabout3500
squaremiles,withasoilofunboundedfertilityinahighstateofcultivation,apopulationsufficientlynumerousforallrequirementsoftheisland,andforestsoftimberthatwasingreatrequestforthearchitectandship-builder。Inadditiontothesenaturalsourcesofwealth,themineralproductionswerecelebratedfromtheearliesthistory,andthecopperofCypruswasusedbythePhoeniciansinthemanufactureoftheircelebratedbronze。
TheChittimwoodofScripture,importedtoSyriafromCyprus(theancientChittim),wasprobablyaspeciesofcypressatthattimecomposingtheforestswhichornamentedaconsiderableportionofthesurface。Therearetwovarietiesofcypressintheisland:thatwhichwouldhavebeencelebratedgrowsuponthehighmountains,andattainsagirthoffromseventoninefeet,thewoodbeinghighlyaromatic,emittingaperfumeresemblingamixtureofsandal-woodandcedar;theothercypressisadwarfvarietythatseldomexceedstwentyfeetinheight,withamaximumcircumferenceoftwofeet;thisisatotallydifferentwood,andisintenselyhard,whiletheformeriseasilyworked,butdurable。ThederivationofthenameCyprushasbeensoughtforfrommanysources;andtheopinionsoftheauthoritiesdiffer。
Englishpeoplemayreflectthattheyalonespellandpronouncethewordas“Cyprus。“Thenameofthecypress-tree,whichatonetimeclothedthemountainsofthisformerlyverdantisland,ispronouncedbytheinhabitants“Kypresses,“whichapproximatescloselytothevariousappellationsofCyprusindifferentlanguages。TheGreeknameisKypros,anditisprobablethatasinancientdaysthe“chittim-wood“wassocalledfromthefactofitsexportfromChittim,thesamelinkmayremainunbrokenbetweenKyprosandthetreeKypresses。
ThegeographicaladvantageswhichIhaveenumeratedaresufficienttoexplaintheseriesofstrugglesforpossessiontowhichtheislandhasbeenexposedthroughoutitshistory;thetombsthathavebeenexamined,haverevealedthesecretsofthedead,andintherelicsofPhoenicians,Persians,Assyrians,Egyptians,andthelonglistofforeignvictors,wediscoverproofsoftheimportantpast,untilweatlengthtreaduponpre-historicalvestiges,andbecomelostinalabyrinthoflegends。Fromtheresearchesofundoubtedauthorities,weknowthatCypruspossessedawrittencharacterpeculiarlyoriginal,andthatitwasoccupiedbyapeoplehighlycivilisedaccordingtothestandardoftheearlyworldatsoprimitiveanera,thatallrecordshavedisappeared,andweareleftinthedarknessofconjecture。
Thechangesintheimportanceofcertaingeographicalpositions,owingtothedeclineandfallofempires,whichatonetimegovernedthedestiniesoftheEasternworld,havebeenstrikinglyexhibitedontheshoresoftheMediterranean;Tyre,Sidon,Carthage,Cyprus,hadlosttheirsignificanceuponmoderncharts,evenbeforetheNewWorldsappeared,whenAmerica,Australia,andtheEasternArchipelagowereintroducedupontheglobe。TheprogressofWesternEuropeeclipsedtheOrientalPowerswhichhithertorepresentedthecivilisationofmankind,andtwopointsaloneremained,which,shornoftheirancientglory,stillmaintainedtheiroriginalimportanceasgeographicalcentres,thatwillrenewthosestrugglesfortheirpossessionwhichfillthebloodypagesoftheirhistory——EgyptandConstantinople。
NocountryhadbeenmorecompletelyexcludedfromthebeatenpathsofBritishtravellersthantheislandofCyprus,andEnglandwasstartledbythesuddenrevelationofamysteryconnectedwiththeTreatyofBerlin,thatitwastobecomeastrategicalpointforaBritishmilitaryoccupation!
Onthe4thJune,1878,a“ConventionofDefensiveAlliancebetweenGreatBritainandTurkey“wassigned,whichagreeduponthefollowingarticles:-
ARTICLEI。
“IfBatoum,Ardahan,Kars,oranyofthem,shallberetainedbyRussia,orifanyattemptshallbemadeatanyfuturetimebyRussiatotakepossessionofanyfurtherterritoriesofHisImperialMajestytheSultaninAsia,asfixedbythedefinitivetreatyofpeace,EnglandengagestojoinHisImperialMajestytheSultanindefendingthembyforceofArms。
“Inreturn,HisImperialMajestytheSultanpromisestoEnglandtointroducenecessaryreforms,tobeagreeduponlaterbetweenthetwoPowers,intothegovernment,andfortheprotectionoftheChristianandothersubjectsofthePorteinthoseterritories;andinordertoenableEnglandtomakenecessaryprovisionforexecutingherengagement,HisImperialMajestytheSultanfurtherconsentstoassigntheislandofCyprustobeoccupiedandadministeredbyEngland。
ARTICLEII。
“ThepresentConventionshallberatified,andtheratificationsthereofshallbeexchanged,withinthespaceofonemonth,orsoonerifpossible。
“InwitnesswhereoftherespectivePlenipotentiarieshavesignedthesame,andhaveaffixedtheretothesealoftheirarms。
“DoneatConstantinople,thefourthdayofJune,intheyearonethousandeighthundredandseventy-eight。
“A。H。LAYARD。
“SAFVET。“
ItwaseventuallyagreedbetweenthecontractingPowers:-
“ThatEnglandwillpaytothePortewhateveristhepresentexcessofrevenueoverexpenditureintheisland;thisexcesstobecalculatedanddeterminedbytheaverageofthelastfiveyears。“
and:——
“ThatifRussiarestorestoTurkeyKarsandtheotherconquestsmadebyherinArmeniaduringthelastwar,theislandofCypruswillbeevacuatedbyEngland,andtheConventionofthefourthJune,1878,willbeatanend。“
IknewnothingofCyprus,butIfeltsurethattheTurkshadthebestofthebargain,astheywouldreceivetheusualsurplusrevenuefromourhands,andbesavedthetroubleandonusofthecollection;theywouldalsobecertainofafixedannualsum,withoutanyofthoserisksofdroughts,famine,andlocusts,towhichtheislandisexposed,andwhichseriouslyaffecttheincome。
AlthoughtherewouldonlybeawildlyremotechanceofRussiaeverrelinquishingherAsiaticprey,thebarementionofthewords“willbeevacuatedbyEngland“wasapossiblecontingencyandrisk,thatwouldeffectuallyexcludeallBritishcapitalfrominvestmentintheisland。I
couldnotdiscoveranypossiblegoodthatcouldaccruetoEnglandbythetermsoftheConvention。IfCyprushadbeenpresentedasa“bonus“bythePortetocounterbalancetheriskweshouldincurinadefensivealliancefortheprotectionofAsiaMinor,IcouldhaveseenanadditiontoourColonialEmpireofavaluableisland,thatwouldnotonlyhavebeenofstrategicalvalue,butsuchthatinafewyears,moneyandBritishsettlerswouldhaveentirelychangeditspresentaspect,andhavecreatedforitaneweraofprosperity。
IfEnglandhadpurchasedCyprus,Icouldhaveunderstoodtheplain,straightforward,business-liketransaction,whichwouldhaveatonceestablishedconfidence,bothamongtheinhabitants,whowouldhavebecomeBritishsubjects;andthroughtheouterworld,thatwouldhaveacknowledgedthecommencementofagreatfuture。
But,ifwewereactuallyboundindefensivealliancewithTurkeyincaseofawarwithRussia,whyshouldweoccupyCyprusuponsuchone-sidedandanomalousconditions,thatwouldfrustrateallhopesofcommercialdevelopment,forthesakeofobtainingastrategicalpositionthatwouldhavebeenopenedtoouroccupationASANALLYatanymoment?Ontheotherhand,ifwedistrustedTurkey,andfearedthatshemightcoquetwithRussiaatsomefutureperiod,IcouldseeaparamountnecessityfortheoccupationofCyprus,andevenEgypt;butweweresupposedtobe,andIbelievewere,actinginabsoluteandmutualgoodfaithastheprotectorofAsiaticTurkey,indefensivealliancewiththeSultan。Inthatposition,shouldwehaveenteredintoawarwithRussia,therewasnonecessityfortheoccupationandresponsibilityofanynewposition,aseveryportoftheOttomandominions,eventotheGoldenHornofConstantinople,wouldhavewelcomedourtroopsandboatswithenthusiasm。
TurkeyisasuspiciousPower,andtheBritishgovernmentmayhavehadtocontendwithdifficultiesthatareunknowntothecriticisingpublic;itmayhavebeenimpossibletohaveobtainedhersanctionfortheoccupationunderotherconditions。Thepossibilityoffuturecomplicationsthatmightterminateinaclosealliancebetweentheconqueredandthevictor,mayhavesuggestedthenecessityforsecuringthismostimportantstrategicalpositionwithoutdelay,uponfirstconditionsthatmightsubsequentlyreceivemodifications。Atfirstsightthepoliticalsituationappearedvague,butIdeterminedtoexaminethephysicalgeographyofCyprus,andtoformmyownopinionofitscapabilities。
CYPRUSASISAWITIN1879。
CHAPTER1。
ARRIVALATLARNACA。
Onthemorningofthe4thJanuarywesightedCyprusataboutfiftymilesdistance,afterasmoothvoyageoftwenty-sixhoursfromAlexandria。Thedaywasfavourableforanarrival,astheatmosphericalconditionaffordedbothintenselightsandshadows。Theskywasacobaltblue,butuponallpointsofthecompasslocalrain-cloudshoveredindarkpatchesnearthesurface,andemptiedthemselvesinheavyshowers。Theairwasextremelyclear,andaswesteamedattenknotseachhourbroughtoutinprominentreliefthemountainpeaksofCyprus;Olympuswascappedwithclouds。Passingthrougharain-cloudwhichforatimeobscuredtheview,weatlengthemergedintobrightsunshine;themistshadclearedfromthemountainrange,andTroodos,6,400feetabovethesea-level,toweredaboveallcompetitors。
Wewerenowabouttenmilesfromtheshore,andthegeneralappearanceoftheislandsuggestedarecentsnowfall。Asthesunshoneuponabarewhitesurface,thesterileslopesandmountainsideswereutterlydevoidofvegetation,andpresentedasadaspectofdesolation,whichremindedmeofthebarrenrangeontheshoresoftheRedSea。
Firstimpressionsareseldomcorrect,buttheviewofCyprusonarrivalfromthesouthwasdepressing,andextinguishedallhopesthathadbeenformedconcerningournewly-acquiredpossession。Thiswasthetreasureacquiredbyastutediplomacy!
Forabouttwentymilesweskirtedthismiserablecoast,uponwhichnotagreenspeckrelievedtheeye;atlengthwesightedtheminaretwhichmarkedthepositionofLarnaca,theportorroadsteadtowhichthemailwasbound;andinthetownwedistinguishedthreeorfourgreentrees。
Wecastanchorabouthalfamilefromtheshore。Nineortenvessels,includingseveralsteamers,wereintheroadstead,andanumberoflighterswereemployedinlandingcargoes。
Disappointmentanddisgustwerequicklybanishedbythereflectionthatatthisseason(January)therewasnothinggreeninEngland:thethermometerinthatdrearylandwouldbebelowfreezing-point,whileonthedeckwherewestooditwas64degreesFahr。Wewerequicklyinaboatsteeringforthelanding-place。
Alltownslooktolerablywellfromthesea,especiallyifsituatedactuallyuponthemarginofthewater。Thetownrepresentedafrontofaboutamile,lessthanfivefeetabovethelevelofthesea,borderedbyamasonryquayperpendiculartothesurface,fromwhichseveralwoodenjettiesofinferiorandveryrecentconstructionservedaslanding-places。
TheleftflankofLarnacawasboundedbyasmallTurkishfort,absolutelyuselessagainstmodernartilleryuponthewallstheBritishflagwasfloating。Welandeduponthequay。Thisformedastreet,theseaupononeside,facedbyarowofhouses。AswithallTurkishpossessions,decayhadstampedthetown:themasonryofthequaywasinmanyplacesbrokendown,thewaveshadunderminedcertainhouses,andintheholesthuswashedoutbytheactionofwaterwereaccumulationsofrecentfilth。Nevertheless,enormousimprovementshadtakenplacesincetheEnglishoccupation。Anengineerwasalreadyemployedinrepairingthequay,andlargeblocksofcarefullyfacedstone(asedimentarylimestonerockofveryrecentformation)werebeinglaiduponabedofconcretetoformapermanentsea-wall。Thehouseswhichlinedthequaywereforthemostpartstores,warehouses,andliquor-shops。AmongthesetheCustomHouse,theClub,PostOffice,andChiefCommissioner\'swereprominentassuperiorbuildings。TherewasapeculiarcharacterintheinterioreconomyofnearlyallhousesinLarnaca;itappearedthatheavytimbermusthavebeenscarcebeforethetownwasbuilt,astheupperfloorwasinvariablysupportedbystonearchesofconsiderablemagnitude,whichsprangfromtheground-floorlevel。Thesearcheswereuniformthroughoutthetown,andthebaseofthearchwastheactualground,withoutanypillarorcolumnarsupport;sothatintheabsenceofapowerfulbeamoftimber,thetopoftheone-spanarchformedasupportforthejoistsofthefloorabove。Inlargehousesnumerousarchesgaveanimposingappearancetothearchitectureofthegroundfloors,whichweregenerallyusedaswarehouses。Eventhewoodenjoistswereimportedpolesoffir,thusprovingthescarcityofnaturalforests。Theroofsofthehouseswereforthemostpartflat,andcoveredwithtemperedclayandchoppedstrawforthethicknessofaboutteninches。Somebuildingsofgreaterpretensionsweregaudyinbrightredtiles,butallwerealikeinthegeneralwasteofrain-water,whichwassimplyallowedtopourintothenarrowstreetsthroughinnumerablewoodenshootsprojectingaboutsixfeetbeyondtheeaves。Thesegutterswouldbeaseriousobstacletowheeledconveyances,suchasloftywaggons,whichwouldbeunableinmanycasestopassbeneath。Thestreetsarepaved,butbeingdevoidofsubterraneandrains,aheavyshowerwouldconvertthemintopools。Footpassengersareprotectedfromsuchaccidentsbyastonefootwayaboutsixteenincheshighuponeithersideofthenarrowstreet。BeforetheEnglishoccupationthesehollowlanesweremerelyheapsoffilth,whichcausedgreatunhealthiness;theywerenowtolerablyclean;butinmostcasesthepavementwasfullofholesthatwouldhavetestedthespringsandwheelsofmodernvehicles。
Ihadheard,priortoleavingEngland,thathotels,inns,&c。,wereunknowninLarnaca;Iwas,therefore,agreeablysurprisedonlanding,tofindanewhotel(Craddock\'s)whichwasscrupulouslyclean,theroomsneatlywhitewashed,andeverythingsimpleandinaccordancewiththerequirementsofthecountry。
ThemiserablereportsinEnglandrespectingthewantofaccommodation,andtheunhealthinessofCyprus,haddeterminedmetorendermyselfindependent;Ihadthereforearrangedagipsytravelling-vanwhileinLondon,whichwould,asahutuponwheels,enableustoselectadesirableresting-placeinanyportionoftheisland,wheretherouteshouldbepracticableforwheeledconveyances。Thisvanwasfurnishedwithapermanentbed;shelvesorwardrobebeneath;achestofdrawers;
tabletofallagainstthewallwhennotinuse,lockersforglassandcrockery,stoveandchimney,andinfactitresembledaship\'scabin,ninefeetsixincheslong,byfivefeeteightincheswide。
Ihadanotherexcellentlightfour-wheeledvanconstructedbyMessrs。
GloverBrothers,ofDeanStreet,Soho:boththesevehicleshadbroadandthickirontirestothewheels,whichprojected5/8inchuponeithersidebeyondthefelloes,inordertoaffordawidesurfacetodeepsoilorsandygroundwithoutnecessitatingatoomassivewheel。
ThevanswithallmyeffectshadleftLondonbysteamerdirectforCyprus,Ithereforefoundthem,uponmyarrivalfromEgypt,inthechargeofMr。Z。Z。Williamson,amostactiveagentandperfectpolyglot;thelattergiftbeinganextremeadvantageinthiscountryofBabel-likeconfusionoftongues。
IwasnowpreparedtoinvestigateCyprusthoroughly,andtoformmyownopinionofitspresentandfuturevalue。
ThedayaftermyarrivalIstrolledoutsidethetownandexercisedmythreespanielswhichhadcomeoutdirectfromEngland。Thedogssearchedforgamewhichtheydidnotfind,whileIexaminedthegeneralfeaturesofthecountry。Aboutthree-quartersofamilefromthepresenttownorportaretheremainsofoldLarnaca。Thisisamerevillage,butpossessesalargeGreekchurch。ThetombofLazarus,whoisbelievedtohavesettledinCyprustoavoidpersecutionafterhismiraculousresurrectionfromthegrave,istobeseeninthechurchofSt。Georgewithintheprincipaltown。
Fromthispointanexcellentviewisobtainedoftheadjacentcountry。A
plainofmostfertilesoilextendsalongthesea-coasttowardstheeastforsixmiles,andinbreadthaboutfourmiles。ThepresenttownofLarnacastandsonthesea-boardofthisplain,whichtothewestoftheportcontinuesforaboutfourmiles,thusgivinganareaofsometenmilesinlength,formingalmostahalfcircleoffourmilesinitssemi-diameter;thewholeiscircumscribedbyhillsoflowbutincreasingaltitudes,allutterlybarren。Throughtheplainaretwounmistakableevidencesofriver-actionwhichatsomeremoteperiodhadwasheddownfromthehighergroundthefertiledepositwhichhasformedthealluviumofthevalley。Withinthisapparentlylevelplainisavestigeofaoncehigherlevel,thebordersofwhichhavebeendenudedbythecontinualactionofrunningwaterduringtherushesfromthemountainsintherainyseason。Thiswateractionhaslongceasedtoexist。Therecanbelittledoubtthatintheancientdaysofforest-coveredmountains,therainfallofCypruswasfargreaterthanatpresent,andthatimportanttorrentssweptdownfromthehill-sides。Weseeevidencesofthisintheroundedblocks,allwater-worn,ofsyeniteandgneiss,whichareintermingledwiththebitsofbrokenpotteryinthevale,alikerelicsofthepastandprovingthechangesbothinnatureandinmansinceCypruswasinthezenithofprosperity。
Alevelplateauabouteighteenfeetabovethelowestleveloftheplainshowstheoriginalsurface。Thesoiloftheentirevalleyiscalcareous,andiseminentlyadaptedforthecultivationofthevineandcereals。Astherainhaspercolatedthroughtheground,ithasbecomesothoroughlyimpregnatedwithsulphateoflimethatithasdepositedaseriesofstratasomesixorsevenfeetbelowthesurface,whichformaflakysubterraneanpavement。Theancientsselectedthisshallowsoilofahigherlevelforaburial-ground,andtheyburrowedbeneaththestratumofstonydeposittoformtheirtombs。OneofthechiefoccupationsofmodernCypriotesappearstobethedespoilingofthedead;thustheentiresidesoftheplateau-faceforadistanceofabouttwomilesareburrowedintothousandsofholestoadepthoftenandtwelvefeetinsearchofhiddentreasures。Ifthesameamountoflabourhadbeenexpendedinthetillageofthesurface,theresultwouldhavebeenfarmoreprofitable。Asmallproportionofthelandupontheoutskirtsofthetownwascultivated,somehadbeenrecentlyploughed,whileinotherplotsthewheathadappearedabovethesurface。Waterisgenerallyfoundateightorninefeetbelowthelevel,butthisisofaninferiordescription,andthetownandenvironsarewellsuppliedbyanaqueductwhichconveysthewaterfrompowerfulspringsaboutsevenmilestothewestofLarnaca,nearArpera。Thisusefulworkwasconstructedaccordingtothewillofaformerpacha,whobequeathedthesumrequired,forapublicbenefit。
Largeflocksofsheepweregrazinginvariousportionsoftheuncultivatedplain。Atfirstsighttheyappearedtobeonlysearchingforfoodamongthestonesanddust,butuponcloseexaminationIfoundapeculiarfleshyherbsomethinglikethestone-cropwhichgrowsupontheoldwallsandrocksofEngland。Thisplantwasexceedinglysalt,andthesheepdevoureditwithavidity,andwereinfaircondition。Thewoolwaslong,butofacoarsewirytexture,andmuchimpairedbytheadherenceofthistlesandotherpricklyplants。Themusicalsoundofdistantbellsdenotedthearrivalofalongstringofcamels,ladenwithimmensebalesofunpressedcottonontheirwaytotheportofLarnaca。Eachanimalcarriedtwobales,andIobservedthatthesaddlesandpadswereinexcellentorder,thecamelswellfed,andstronglycontrastingwiththecruelcarelessnessofthecamelownersofEgypt,whosebeastsaregalledintoterriblesoresfromthewantofpaddingintheirpacks。Thecottonhadbeencleanedupontheplantation,butitwouldbesubjectedtohydraulicpressureandpackedintheusualiron-boundbalesforshipment,uponarrivalinthestoresofLarnaca。
Itwasimpossibletoresistafeelingofdepressionuponstrollingaroundtheenvironsofthetownandregardingthebarrenaspectofthedistantcountry。Everyinchofthisfertileplainshouldbecultivated,andnumerousvillagesshouldbedottedupontheextensivesurface。
“Thornsalsoandthistlesshallitbringforth“wasacursethatappearedtohaveadheredtoCyprus。
Itwasunnecessarytoseekforthechiefcauseofunhealthiness;thiswasatonceapparentinthelowswampsontheimmediateoutskirtsofthetown。InancientdaystheshallowharbourofCittiumexistedontheeastsideofmodernLarnaca;whetherfromasiltingoftheport,orfromthegradualalterationintheleveloftheMediterranean,theoldharbournolongerexists,butisconvertedintoamiserableswamp,borderedbyaraisedbeachofshinglesupontheseaboard。Theearthhasbeensweptdownbytherains,andthesanddriveninbythesea,whilemanstoodidlyby,allowingNaturetodestroyaformerindustry。Alltheoriginalharboursofthecountryhavesufferedfromthesameneglect。
Therewaslittletobeseenintheneighbourhood。ThesitewaspointedoutwherethetroopswereencampedinthetremendousheatofJulyintheclosevicinityoftheswampyground,uponpestiferoussoil,andtheusualtalesofcommissariatblunderswererecounted。Closetothebordersofthisunhealthyspot,butabouttwentyfeetabovethelevelofthelowestmorass,standstheconventbelongingtotheSistersofCharity,whichincludesaschool,inadditiontoahospital。GreatkindnesswasshownbytheseexcellentladiestomanyEnglishsufferers,andtheirestablishmentdeservesaliberalsupportfrompubliccontributions。
IwalkedthroughthebazaarofLarnaca;thisissituatedatthewestendofthetownnearthefort,closetowhichthereisapublicfountainsuppliedbytheaqueducttowhichIhavealreadyalluded。Brasstapswerearrangedaroundthecoveredstonereservoir,butIremarkedadistressingwasteofwater,asacontinualflowescapedfromanuncontrolledshootwhichpouredinalargevolumeuselesslyintothestreet。Withinafewyardsofthereservoirwasasolitaryoldbaniantree(ficusreligiosa),aroundwhichacrowdofdonkeyswaited,ladenwithpannierscontaininglargeearthenjars,whichintheirturnweretobefilledwiththepurewateroftheArperasprings。
Althoughthecrowdwaslarge,andallwerebusiedinfillingtheirjarsandloadingtheirrespectiveanimals,therewasnojostlingorquarrellingforprecedence,buteveryindividualwasapatternofpatienceandgoodhumour。MohammedansandCypriotesthrongedtogetherinthesameemployment,andtheorderlybehaviourintheabsenceofpolicesupervisionformedastrongcontrasttothecrowdsinEngland。
TheMosquebeingwithinafewfeetofthem,theMussulmanscouldperformtheirablutionsatthethreshold。Aroundthefont,womenwereintermingledwithacrowdofmenandboys。Thegirlsandladswereregularinfeaturesandgood-looking,thoughdirtandtornclothingofvariousgaudycoloursgaveapicturesque,buthardlyanattractive,appearancetothegroup。Thebazaarwasenteredatrightangleswiththequay;thestreetswerepavedwithstonesofirregularsize,slopingfrombothsidestowardsthecentre,whichformedthegutter。Camels,mules,bullock-carts,andtheomnipresentdonkeysthrongedthenarrowstreets,eitherladenwithproduceforthequay,orreturningafterhavingdeliveredtheirheavyloads。Thedonkeyswereverylargeandweremostlydarkbrown,withconsiderablelengthofhair。Inlikemannerwiththecamels,theywerecarefullyprotectedbythickandwellstuffedpacks,orsaddles,andwereaccordinglyfreefromsores。Theyappearedtobeexceedinglydocileandintelligent,anddidnotrequiretheincessantbelabouringtowhichtheassofothercountriesisthevictim。Largedrovesoftheseanimals,eachladenwiththreeheavysquaredstonesforbuilding,pickedtheirwaythroughthenarrowstreets,andseemedtoknowexactlythespacerequiredfortheirpanniers,astheynevercollidedwitheithercartsorpassengers。
Theshopsofthebazaarwereallopen,andcontainedthesuppliesusuallyseeninTurkishmarkets——vegetables,meat,andapredominanceofnativesweetsandconfectionery,inadditiontostoresofgroceries,andofcopperandbrassutensils。Anabsenceoffishprovedthegeneralindolenceofthepeople;thereisabundanceinthesea,buttherearefewfishermen。
Anhour\'sstrollwasquitesufficientforonetoformanopinionofLarnaca。Agoodroadsteadandsafeanchorageoffergreatadvantages,butuntilsomeprotectionshallbeaffordedthatwillenableboatstolandinallweathersLarnacacanneverbeacceptedasaport。Thereisshoalwaterforadistanceofabouttwohundredyardsfromtheshore,whichcausesaviolentsurfeveninamoderatebreeze,andfrequentlypreventsallcommunicationwiththeshipping。Thequaywasinmanyplacesunderminedbytheactionofthewaves,anditwouldbenecessarytocreateanentirelynewfrontbysinkingafoundationforasea-wallsomeyardsinadvanceofthepresentface。Therewouldbenoengineeringdifficultyintheformationofaboat-harbour,tocombinebyextensivepile-jettiesthefacilityoflandinginallweathers。AverycursoryviewofLarnacaexhibitedatruepictureofitsmiserablefinancialposition。ThenumerousstoreskeptbyEuropeansweretheresultofaspasmodicimpulse。Therewasnowholesometrade;thosewhorepresentedthecommercialelementwereforthemostpartunfortunateswhohadrushedtoCyprusatthefirstintelligenceoftheBritishoccupation,stronginexpectationsofagoldenharvest。ThesuddenwithdrawalofthelargemilitaryforceleftLarnacaintheconditionofstreetsfullofsellers,butdenudedofbuyers。Thestoresweresuppliedwiththeusualamountofliquors,andtinsofpreservedprovisions;noneoftheimportedarticleswereadaptedfornativerequirements;anutterstagnationoftradewastheconsequence,andpricesfellbelowthecostofhomeproduction。Theprecedingyearhadbeenexceptionallysickly;
manyofthestorekeepersweresufferingfromtheeffectsoffever,which,combinedwiththedepressionofspiritscausedbyruinedprospects,producedaconditionoftotalcollapse,fromwhichtherewasonlyonerelief——thatofwritingtothenewspapersandabusingtheGovernmentandtheislandgenerally。
Theremustalwaysbemartyrs——somebodymustbesacrificed——whetherburntatthestakeforreligiousprinciples,orputinabell-tentinthesunwiththethermometerat110degreesFahr。simplybecausetheyareBritishsoldiers——itdoesnotmuchmatter——butthemomentyourmerchantsareslainuponthealtar,theboiling-pointisreached。
Thestore-keeperssatdespondinglybehindtheircounterswhilethehingesoftheirdoorsrustedfromtheabsenceofin-comers。Itwasimpossibletorousethemfromtheirstateofmercantilecoma,exceptbyoneword,whichhadamagneticeffectupontheirnervoussystem——“CustomHouse。“
“IsupposeyouhavenodifficultyattheCustomHouse,Mr——inthissimpleisland?”Thiswasinvariablytheredragtothebull。
“Nodifficulty,Sir!——nodifficulty?——itisTHEdifficulty——weareabsolutelyparalysedbytheCustomHouse。Everyboxisbrokenopenandthecontentsstrewedupontheground。Thedutyisadvaloremuponallarticles,andanignorantTurkisthevaluer。Thismandoesnotknowthedifferencebetweenabootjackandalemon-squeezer:onlytheotherdayhevaluedwiredish-coversas`articlesofhead-dress,\'(probablyhehadseenwirefencing-masks)。Ifheisperplexed,heisobligedtoreferthequestionablearticletotheChiefOffice,——thisistwohundredyardsfromthelandingplace:——thushepasseshalfthedayinrunningbackwardsandforwardswithtriflesofcontestedvaluetohissuperior,whilecrowdsarekeptwaiting,andthestoreispiledwithgoodsmosturgentlyrequired。“……
IimmediatelywenttoseethiseccentricrepresentativeofAnglo-Turkishpolitical-and-mercantile-combination,andfoundverylittleexaggerationinthedescription,exceptthatthedistancewas187pacesinsteadof200whichhehadtoperform,wheneverthecharacterofthearticlewasbeyondthesphereofhisexperience。Asthishappenedabouteveryquarterofanhour,hecouldnotcomplainofasedentaryemployment。Afewdaysafterthis,migratorybirdsarrivedinCyprusupontheinhospitableshoreoppositetheCustomHouseintheshapeoftwoLiberalM。P\'s。fromEngland,——whovisitedtheislandspeciallytoformanhonestopinionfreefromallpoliticalbias。WhetherthesegentlemenwereundervaluedbytheeccentricofficialtowhomIhavealluded,orwhetherhesuspectedLiberalsasopponentstoberegardedandtreatedasspies,wenevercoulddetermine;bututterlydisregardingtheirinnocentexterior,hesubjectedthemtotheextremetortureoftheCustomHouse,anddivedandplungedintotheverybowelsandbottomsoftheirnumeroussmallpackages,rumplingcleanlinen,andproducingatoiletticchaos。TothehonourofthesemembersoftheOppositiontheyneverbroughtthequestionbeforetheHouseupontheirreturntoEngland,neitherdidtheymakeitthefoundationofanattackupontheGovernment。
Anexcessofzealisnotuncommonamongignorantofficialsnewlyraisedtoapositionofauthority:thusLarnacawasoutdonebytheCustomHouserepresentativeatLimasolinvigilanceandstrictattentiontotheadministrativetorturesofhisoffice。Ihaveheardofcasesofcrockerybeingunpackeduponthebeachandspreadouttobecountedandvaluedupontheloosestonesofshingle!
TheunfortunateEuropeantradersofLarnacawereshortlyrelievedoftheirCustomHousetroublesbythetotalabsenceofimports。ThenativeCypriotedoesnotpurchaseatEuropeanshops;hiswantsarefew;thesmallestpieceofsoapwilllastanindefiniteperiod;heisfrugaltoanextremedegree;andifhehasdesires,hecurbssuchtemptationsandhoardshiscoin。Thus,asthenativesdidnotpurchase,andallEuropeansweresellerswithoutbuyers,therewasnoalternativebuttoshuttheshutters。ThiswasaspeciesofcommercialsuicidewhichmadeLarnacaaplaceofdepartedspirits;inwhichunhappystateitremainstothepresenthour。Eventheclubwasclosed。
CHAPTERII。
THEGIPSY-VANSENCOUNTERDIFFICULTIES。
Mygipsy-vanwasnotofdoubtfulcharacter。IhadpurchaseditdirectfromthegipsiesinEngland,andithadbeenspeciallyarrangedfortheCyprusjourneybyMessrs。GloverBros。ofDeanStreet,Soho,London。Ithadbeenpaintedandvarnishedwithmanycoatsbothinsideandout,andnobody,unlessanexperiencedgipsy,wouldhaveknownthatitwasnotnewlybornfromthemaker\'syard。Originallyithadbeenconstructedforshafts,asonehorsewasconsideredsufficientupontheroadsofEngland,butwhenitarrivedinCyprusitappearedtohavegrownduringthevoyageabouttwosizeslargerthanwhenitwaslastseen。AsthesmallanimalsofLarnacapassedby,wheremylovelyvanblockeduptheentirestreet,andforcedthelittlecreaturesuponthefootpath,theylookedincomparisonasthoughtheyhadjustbeendisembarkeduponMountAraratfromtheoriginalNoah\'sark,representedbythegipsy-van!TheCypriotesarepolite,thereforeIheardnoruderemarks。TheCyprioteboysarelikeallotherboys,thereforetheyclimbedtothetopofthevan,andendeavouredbyescaladetoenterthewindows。OnoneoccasionI
capturedHALFABOY(theposteriorhalf)whowashangingwithlegsdanglingoutofthewindow,his“forlorn-hope“oradvancehalfvainlyendeavouringtoobtainaresting-placeuponvacuitywithin(asthefallslab-tablewasdown)。Ihadnostick;butthetoesofhisbootshadimprintedfirstimpressionsuponthefaultlessvarnish。WhatbecameofthatyoungCypriotewasneverknown。
EveninCyprustherearemunicipallaws,andnowthattheEnglisharetheretheyareenforced;thereforemyhugevancouldnotremainlikeawadinagun-barrel,andentirelyblockthestreet。ALondonpolicemanwouldhavedesireditto“moveon“but——thiswastherealgrievancethatIhadagainstLarnaca——thevanCOULDNOT“MOVEON,“owingtoitsextremeheight,whichinterferedwiththewoodenwater-spoutsfromthelowroofsoftheflat-toppedhouses。Thiswasacaseof“realdistress。“
Myvanrepresentedcivilisation:thewater-spoutsrepresentedbarbarism。
IfaLondonomnibuscrowdedwithoutsidepassengershadattemptedtodrivethroughLarnaca,bothdriverandpassengerswouldhavebeensweptintoIhavenottheslightestnotionwhere;andmyvanwastwofeethigherthananomnibus!
IdeterminedthatIwouldavoidallinferiorthoroughfares,andthatthevanshouldpassdownWolseleyStreet,drawnbyanumberofmenwhowouldbesuperiorinintelligencetotheCypriotemulesandbecarefulinturningthecorners。
Ididnotseethestart,asapersonwithan“excessofzeal“hadstarteditwithacrowdofmadmenwithoutorders,andIwasonlyalatespectatorsomehoursafteritsarrivaloppositeCraddock\'sHotel。Itratherresembledashipthathadbeeninbadweatherandincollisionwithafewsteamers。Howmanywater-spoutsithadcarriedawayIneverheard。Thefore-axlewasbroken,asitappearedthatinroundingacornerithadbeendraggedbymainforceuponthecurbstoneaboutsixteenincheshigh,fromwhichithadbumpedviolentlydown。Ithadthenbeenbackedagainstawater-spout,whichhadgonecompletelythroughwhatsailorswouldtermthe“stern。“Oneshutterwassplitintwopieces,andonewindowsmashed。Altogether,whatwithbruises,scratches,brokenaxle,andotherdamages,myvanlookedtenyearsoldersincethemorning。
FortunatelyamongtheEuropeanswhohadflockedtoCyprussincetheBritishoccupationwasaFrenchblacksmith,whoseforgewasonlyafewyardsfromCraddock\'sHotel,wheremywreckedvesselblockedtheway。I
hadanewforeaxle-treemade,andstrengthenedthehinderaxle。Ialsofittedabullock-pole,insteadofshafts,forapairofoxen;thespringsIboundupwithironwireshrunkonwhilered-hot。Itookoutthestove,asitwasnotnecessary,anditsabsenceincreasedthespace;
andIinsertedaventilatorintheroofinplaceofthechimney。Whenrepaired,thevanlookedasgoodasnew,andwasmuchstronger,andwelladaptedforroughtravel。TheonlythingitnowwantedwasaROAD!
ThehighwaysofCyprusweremeremule-tracks。Theonlylegitimateroadinexistencewasofmostrecentconstruction,whichrepresentedthenewbirthofBritishenterprise,fromLarnacatothecapital,Nicosia(orLefkosia),abouttwenty-eightmiles。Theregrettablepaucityofstone-hammersrendereditimpossibletopreparethemetal,thereforehugeroundedblocks,biggerthanaman\'shead,hadbeenthrowndownforafoundation,uponwhichsomeroughlybrokenandaquantityofunbrokensmallerstoneshadbeenspread。
Ofcoursetherewasonlyonemethodoftravellinguponthisroutewiththegipsy-van:thiswastoavoiditaltogether,buttokeepuponthenaturalsoilonthesideofthenewly-madelevel。
Mysecondvanwasmostsatisfactory,andwaslightinproportiontoitsstrengthandcapacity。Thiswasarrangedspeciallyforluggage,andwasentirelyclosedbydoorsateitherend,whichweresecuredbyboltsandlocks。Abovetheluggage,andabouttwofeetsixinchesbelowtheroof,aslidingdeckformedofmovableplanksaffordedacomfortablesleeping-berthforaservant。Inthefrontaprojectingroofshelteredthedrivingseat,whichwaswideenoughtoaccommodatefourpersons。I
hadfittedapoleinsteadofshafts,aspublicopiniondecidedagainstmules,anditwasagreedthatoxenweresteadierandmorepowerfulfordraughtpurposes。Afteracarefulselection,Iobtainedtwopairsofverybeautifulanimals,quiteequalinsizetoordinaryEnglishoxen,forwhichIpaidtwelveshillingsperdiem,includingthedriversandallexpensesoffodder。Ialsoengagedthenecessaryridingmules,asthevanswerenotintendedforpersonaltravelling,butmerelyforluggageandforahomeatnight。OurservantsconsistedofAmarn(myAbyssinian,whohadbeenwithmeeightyears,sincehewasaaboyofnineyearsoldinAfrica),aGreekcooknamedChristo,whohadservedinasimilarcapacityuponnumeroussteamers,andayoungmannamedGeorgi,ofabouttwenty-one,whowastobemadeintoaservant。Thisyoungfellowhadappearedonedaysuddenly,andsolicitedemployment,whilewewerestayingatCraddock\'sHotel;hewasshort,thickset,andpossessedaheadofhairthatwouldhaveraisedtheenvyofAbsalom:indensetangleitwouldhavedefiedamane-comb。Georgihadapleasantexpressionofcountenancewhichdidnotharmonisewithhisexterior,ashisclotheswereinaraggedandfilthycondition,hisshoeswereintatters,andtroddendownattheheeltoadegreethatresembledboatsintheactofcapsizing;theseexposedtheremnantsofsocks,throughthegapsofwhichtheskinofhisfeetwasexhibitedinanythingbutflesh-colour。Itisdangeroustopickupa“waifandstray,“assuchobjectsofphilanthropyfrequentlydisappearatthesametimeastheforksandspoons。Inreplytomyquestions,IdiscoveredthatGeorgiwasinfactthe“prodigalson;“hehadnotbeenleadingthefastlifeofthathistoricalcharacter,buthehadlefthishomeinMersine(onthecoastofAsiaMinor)owingtoanunfortunatedisagreementwithhisfather。Insuchdomesticestrangements,rightlyorwrongly,thefathersgenerallyhavethebestofthesituation,andGeorgi,havingleftacomfortablehome(hisfatherbeingwhatiscalled“welltodo“),hadtakenship,and,likemanyothers,hadsteeredforCyprus,wherehearrivedunknown,andquicklyexperiencedthedesolationofanutterstrangerinaforeigntown。Georgibecamehungry;whetherhehadsoldhisgoodclothestoprovideforthecoatsofhisstomachIcannotsay,buttheragsinwhichhefirstappearedtomewereutterlyunsaleable,andfewpeoplewouldhaveventureduponanengagementwithsodisreputableaperson。However,Ilikedhisface;hecouldspeakTurkishandArabicfluently:Greekwashismother-tongue,andhehadasmatteringofFrench。Isentforthetailor,andhadhimmeasuredforasuitofclothestomatchthoseofAmarn——atunic,waistcoat,knickerbockers,andgaitersofnavy-blueserge。InafewdaysGeorgiwastransformedintoarespectable-lookingservant,withhishaircut。
WeleftLarnacaonthe29thofJanuary。Anativetwo-wheeledcartconveyedthetentsandsuperabundantbaggage。Theoxenmadenodifficulty,andthegipsy-vanrolledeasilyalong。Anenterprisingphotographer,havingpostedhimselfinacertainpositionnearthehighway,suddenlystoppedourparty,andsubsequentlyproducedafacsimile,althoughmydogs,whowereinmovement,cameoutwithphantom-likeshadows。Theseusefulcompanionswerethreespaniels——“Merry,““Wise,“and“Shot;“thelatterhadabrokenforelegthroughanaccidentinthepreviousyear,buthewasanexcellentretriever,andcouldworkslowly。Theotherswereyoungerdogs,whosecharacterswerewellrepresentedbytheirnames;thefirstwasanuntiring,determinedanimal,andWisewasasteadyhunterthatwouldfacetheworstthorns,andwasagoodretriever。
Thispartywasnowinmovement,andIintendedtomakeapreliminarydetourfromtheNicosiaroutetovisitthespringsofArpera,abouteightmilesdistant,whichsupplythetownofLarnaca。
IneverycountrywhereIhavetravelledIhaveobservedahumanweaknessamongthepopulationonthequestionof“game;“thereisauniversaltendencytoexaggeration;butthelocalityofsuperabundanceisalwaysdistantfromthenarrator。Asyouproceedthegamerecedes;andyouareinformedthat“atabouttwodays\'marchyouwillfindevenmorethanyourequire。“Uponarrivalatthewished-forspotyouaretoldthat“formerlytherewasalargequantity,butthattimesandseasonshavechanged;thataboutthreemarchesinyourfrontwillbringyoutoahunter\'sparadise,“&c。AsCypruswasanislandofonly140milesinlength,therewouldbealimittotheseboundlessdescriptions;butI
hadalreadyheardenoughtoassuremethattheusualwantofveracityuponthissubjectwaspresentintheaccountsIhadreceived。Thenewspapercorrespondentshadjustcontributedridiculousreportstotheirseveralemployers。BecausethemarketofLarnacawaswellsuppliedwithwoodcocks,red-leggedpartridges,andhares,atlowprices,theseoverworkedgentlemenofthepenrushedtoaconclusionthattheislandteemedwithgame:forgetfulofthefactthateveryCypriotehasagun,andthatnumberswereshootingfortheconsumptionofthefew。Larnacawasthecommoncentretowardswhichallgravitated。Astherateofwageswasonlyoneshillingaday,itmaybeimaginedthatsportaffordedanequallyremunerativeemployment,andgamewasforwardedfromalldistancestobehawkedaboutthepublicthoroughfares。Thefactis,thatgameisveryscarcethroughoutCyprus,andthebooksthathavebeenwrittenuponthiscountryarecertainlynottheproductionsofsportsmen。
Ihadreadinnomeanauthoritythat“thesurfaceofthegroundwascoveredwithheather“——positivelythereisnosuchplantinCyprusasheathorheather。AswepassedtheoutskirtsofLarnaca,wewereintroducedtothemiseryoftheplainofMessaria;theso-calledheatherisalowthornybushabouttwelveincheshigh,whichatadistancehassomeresemblancetotheplantinquestion。Brownistheprevailingcolourinthisportionoftheisland,andtheaspectwasnotcheerfulasweslowlymarchedalongthenativetrackorhighwaytowardsArpera,carefullyavoidingthenewgovernmentmacadamisedroad。
Itisamelancholyneighbourhood。Afewgravesthathadbeenrobbedwereopen,formingpitfallsfortheunwary;otheryawningholeshaddiscoveredancienttombsbythesoakageofarecentheavyshower,whichhadwashedintheroofandexposedthecavity。Wepassedasmallmosquewherethereisthetombofasaintmanyfeetbelowthelevelofthesurface,andweshortlycameinviewofthesaltlakeaboutamileandthree-quartersfromthetownofLarnaca。WehaltedabouttwomilesfromthetownuponthehighgroundtoadmiretheaqueductwhichcrossesthevalleyfromthevillageofCheflikPacha。Thisisaveryimportantwork。
Themasonryisaboutthirty-sixfeetabovethelowestportionofthevalley,whichitspansinthirty-twoarches,coveringadistanceofaboutfourhundredandtwentyyardsfromheighttoheight。Thewaterflowsinanopencanalofcementalongthesurface,butuponthegroundlevelitisprotectedbyacoveringofstoneandlime,untilitreachesthetownofLarnaca。Astreamoffreshwaterflowsthroughthevalleybeneaththearchesoftheaqueduct,atarightangle,andisartificiallyseparatedfromthesaltlakebelowbymeansofadykeofearthwhichconductsitdirecttothesea。Thiswasrenderednecessarybythefloodsoftherainyseasons,whichcarriedsolargeavolumeoffreshwaterintothelakeastoresistthepowerofevaporationduringthesummermonths。ThesaltlakesofLarnacaareseveralmilesinextent,andarecomputedbythelateBritishconsul,Mr。Watkins,topossessaproductivepowerof20,000,000okes(23/4lbs。)perannum。M。
Gaudry,inhiscleverworkuponCyprus,attributestheformationofsalttothefactofthesea-waterpercolatingthroughthesand,andthusfillingthelake;——thistheoryisdisputed,andIinclinetothenativebelief,“thatthesaltlieswithinthesoil,andistakenintosolutionbythewater,whichdepositsthesameamountuponthedrysurfacewhenexhaustedbyevaporation。“Insupportofthisopinion,Iadduceaproofinthefactofthesmallfreshwaterstreamwhichflowsfromthehighergroundthroughthearchesoftheaqueduct,depositingsaltasitssurfacecontractsduringthedryseason。
Astrongefflorescenceoftruechlorideofsodiumisleftuponthesidesofitsbedanduponthebottomasthewaterbecomesexhausted;thismustbethesaltwhichthefreshwaterhasrobbedfromthesoilofthevalleythroughwhichitflows。InmanyportionsofCyprusIhaveobserved,afewdaysafteraheavyshower,aconsiderableamountofsaltuponthesurface。Iknowmanyinstancesoffresh-waterlakesbeingdividedfromtheseabyonlyafewyardsofsandybeach,andIdonotacceptasfactthatsaltwaterpercolatesthroughthesandandformsthesaltofLarnacalake。ThesaltlakesofCeylon,inthesouthdistrictofHambantotte,areimmenselyproductive,andtheyhavenocommunicationwiththesea,butareinasimilarpositiontothoseofCyprusatLarnacaandLimasol——nearthesea,butdependingfortheirwater-supplyuponnaturalspringsandrain。Therecanbenodoubtthatthespringsaresalt,andtherain-waterdissolvesthesaltthatisnaturallycontainedwithinthesoil。M。GaudryobservedaportionoftheplainnearTrichomocoveredwithanefflorescenceofsoda,whichbyanalysisyieldedabouttwo-thirdsofsulphateofsoda,withalargeproportionofsulphateofmagnesiaandothersalts。ManywellsinCyprusaresalt,orbrackish。ThelowestgroundofthemarshyplainnearFamagoustacontainssalttoadegreesufficienttodestroytheyoungcereals,shouldrainnotbeabundant;andduringthedroughtofthisyear(1879),theywerethefirsttoperish,althoughinadamplocality。
SaltisagovernmentmonopolyinCyprus,andisoneofthemostimportantsourcesofrevenue。InthereignoftheLusignandynasty,andfromamuchearlierdate,theproduceofthesaltlakesformedoneofthechiefarticlesofexport,andarrangementsweremadeforregulatingtheamountofwatertoensuretherequisiteevaporation。Atthepresenttimeconsiderableuncertaintyattendsthecollectionofsalt,asaviolentrainfallfloodsthelakesandweakensthesolution。Therecanbenodoubtthatafewyears\'experienceandattentionwillenabletheauthoritiestoimproveuponthepresentarrangement,andthatnotonlywilltheannualsupplybeassured,buttheforeigndemandwillbeextended。
Wepassedthevalleybeyondtheaqueductand,ascendingthesteepinclineupontheoppositeside,followedtheruttynativetrackparallelwiththewater-course;wehaltedforthefirstnightoppositethevillageofCheflikPacha。Thisisanunhealthyplace,asitliesinavalleywhereamillisturnedbyastreamfromtheaqueductandthesurpluswaterformsamarshafterirrigatinginacarelessmannersomefieldsandgardens。Lemonandorange-treesofthelargestsizewerecrowdedwithfruit,andexhibitedinthemidstofatreelessanddesolatecountrythegreatnecessity,WATER,andtheproductivepowersofthesoilwhenregularlysupplied。
Iwascarefulnottodescendintotheirrigatedbottom,thereforewehadhaltedonthehighestpoint,aquarterofamiledistant。Itisimpossibletobetoocarefulintheselectionofacamping-ground;theeffectoffever-germsmaybetheresultofonenight\'sbivouacinanunhealthylocality;andanewcountryisfrequentlystampedaspestilentialfromtheuttercarelessnessofthetravellerorofficerincommandoftroops。
Asageneralruletheimmediateneighbourhoodofwatershouldbeavoided。Aclearstreamisatemptingobject,andthedifficultyofcarryingwaterforthesupplyoftroopsisimportant;butitislessthanthenecessityofcarryingthesick。Ifoncethefeverofmalariaattacksanindividualhebecomesunfittedforhiswork;thebloodispoisoned,andheisthevictimofrenewedattackswhichbafflemedicalskillandleadtootherseriouscomplications。Avoidthefirstattack。
Thismaygenerallybeeffectedbythecarefulselectionofthecamping-ground。Neverhaltinabottom,butalwaysonaheight。
ThroughoutmyjourneyinCyprusneitherourselvesnorservantssufferedfromanyailment,althoughwevisitedeveryportionofthecountry,andIattributethisimmunityfromfevermainlytothecareinourselectionofhalting-places。
Thefirstnecessityintheeveninghaltwasfire。ThisisoneofthetroublesofcentralCyprus——thereisnofuel。Thetwovansandthenativecartwereinaline——thebell-tentwasquicklypitchedfortheservants,whonowforthefirsttimeexperiencedthecomfortofanarrangementIhadmadewheninEngland。Ihadsevendealbattens,eachsevenfeetlong,fourinchesdeep,bytwoandahalfinchesbroad。Thesewerelaiduponthegroundtwelveinchesapart;sevenplanks,eachonefootwide,wereplacedacrossthebattenstoformanimpromptufloor。
Uponthisplatformwaslaidanon-conductorofsimplydoubledhair-felt,sewedintoathinmattressoflightcanvas。Therewasverylittletroubleinthisarrangement;themenwerekeptwellofftheground,andthehair-feltnotonlypreservedtheirbodilyheatfromescaping,butitpreventedthedampoftheearthfromascending。Thismattresswastenfeetlong,thereforeitcouldberolleduptoformabolsteratoneend;
and,duringahotsun,itwasintendedforacovertotheroofofthegipsyvan。
Thefirstday\'sstartisalwaysintheafternoon,andthemarchisshort。Wehadonlymadethreemiles,anditwasnearlydarkwhenwehalted。Theabsenceoffuelnecessitatesthegreattroubleofcarryingasupplyofcharcoal,anditdestroysthepleasureofthecheerfulnight-firesthatusuallyenliventhebivouacinwildcountries。TheplantsandherbsthatgrowinCyprusareallprickly;thusgropinginthedarkforthefirstinflammablematerialtoproducethefire-foundationisunpleasant。Thereisahighlyaromaticbutverypricklyspeciesofwildthyme:thisisalwayssoughtfor,andatalltimesrespondstothematch。
Thefirstnightisalwaysnovel,inspiteofoldexperiences。Weprickedourhandsinrakingupthornyplants,butausefulimplement,whichcombinedthebroadhoeononesidewithalightpickontheother,lessenedourlabour,andweproducedablaze;thiswasbrightbuttransient,asthefuelwasunsubstantial。Thedinnerwasquicklywarmed,asitconsistedoftinsofpreservedmeats;and,climbinguptheladder,thegipsyvanpresentedsuchapictureofluxurythatiftheworldweregirdedbyagoodroadinsteadofauselessequatorIshouldliketobeperpetuallycircum-vanningit。
Onthefollowingmorningthethermometermarked40degrees。Thenativeswereearlyatwork,ploughinglandthatwastoremainfallowuntilthefollowingseason。Theoxenweresleekandingoodcondition,andnotinferiorinweighttothewell-knownredanimalsofNorthDevon。
AlthoughthenativeploughisoftheunchangedandprimitivepatternthatisillustratedonthewallsofEgyptiantemples,itiswelladaptedfortheworkrequiredintheroughandstonygroundofCyprus。Iwassurprisedtoseethedepthwhichtheseexceedinglylightimplementsattained,withapparenteasetothepairofoxen;thiswasnotlessthaneightinches,andthefurrowswereregular,butnotturnedcompletelyover。Theploughshareisnotadaptedforcuttingtherootsofweedsbymeansofaflatsurfaceandasharpedge,buttheroundedtopofthenativeironpassesbeneaththesoilandbreaksituplikethewaveproducedbytheram-bowofavessel。Theplough,whencomplete,doesnotexceedfortypoundsinweight,anditisconvenientlycarried,togetherwiththelabourer,uponthesamedonkey,whentravellingfromadistancetothemorning\'swork。EuropeansettlersinCyprusshouldbecautiousbeforesupersedingthenativeploughbythemassiveEuropeanpattern;
therearecertainsoilswherethepowerfulironplough,oreventhedoubleimplement,mightbeworkedwithadvantage,butasageneralruleIshouldadviseanagriculturisttowaitpatientlyatthecommencementofhisoperations,andtogainpracticalexperienceofthecountrybeforeheexpendscapitalinthepurchaseofEuropeaninventions。TherecanbenodoubtthatbydegreesimportantimprovementsmaybeintroducedthatwillbenefittheCypriotefarmer,althoughitwillbelongbeforehisprimitivemethodwillbeabandoned。ThegreatdifficultyinCyprusconsistsinreducingthesoiltoafinesurface;hugelumpsoftenaciousearthareturnedupbytheplough,which,underthebakinginfluenceofthesun,becomeashardassun-driedbricks。Thenativemethodofcrushingisexceedinglyrudeandineffective。Aheavyplankaboutsixteenfeetlongandthreeinchesthick,furnishedwithtworings,isdraggedbyoxenoverthesurface;whichgenerallyremainsinsoroughastatethatwalkingoverthefieldismostlaborious。TherearemanystonecolumnslyinguselessamongtheheapsofruinssocommoninCyprus,thatwouldformexcellentrollers,buttheideaofsuchanimplementhasneverenteredtheCypriotehead。Theplough,smoothing-plank,andtheancientthreshing-harrow,composedoftwobroadplanksinlaidwithsharpflintstones,aretheonlyfarmmachineryofthecultivator。AsinthedaysofAbrahamtheoxendrewthissamepatternofharrowoverthecorn,andreducedthestrawtoacoarsechaffmingledwiththegrain,soalsothetreatmentinCyprusremainstothepresentday。Theresultisamixtureofdirtandsandwhichisonlypartiallyrejectedbytheequallyprimitivemethodofwinnowing。
Mr。HamiltonLanggivesanamusingdescriptionofthestrictlyconservativeprinciplesoftheCyprianoxen,whichhavealwaysbeenfeduponthestrawbrokenbytheprocessdescribedinthreshingbytheharrowofsharpflints。Thiscoarsechaff,mixedwithcotton-seed,lentils,orbarley,iseatenbyallanimalswithavidity,andthebullockspositivelyrefusedMr。Lang\'snewfood,whichwasthesamestrawpassedthroughanEnglishthreshing-machineandcutfinebyamodernchaff-cutter。Thisfactisawarningtothosewhowouldintroducetoosuddenreformsamongmenandanimalsinanewly-acquiredcountry;
butifMr。HamiltonLanghadsprinkledsaltoverhischaffIthinktherefractoryappetitesoftheoxenmighthavebeenovercome。Apairofoxenaresupposedtoploughone“donum“dailyoffiftypacessquare,orabouthalfanacre。
Havingwatchedthevariousteams,andconversedwiththeploughmenbythemediumofthecookChristo,whospokeEnglishandwasanintelligentinterpreter,IorderedthevanstomoveonwhileIwalkedoverthecountrywiththedogs。Therewasnogameexceptawild-duckwhichIshotinthethickweedsofaneighbouringswamp。Larkswereingreatquantities,andforwantoflargerbirdsIshotenoughforapilaff,andsecuredabreakfast。Theroute,whichcouldbehardlycalledaroad,hadbeenwornbythewheelsofnativecarts。Thesewerenarrowerthanourvans,andoneofourwheelswasgenerallyuponahigherlevel,threateningonsomeoccasionstooverturn。Thecountryarounduswasdesolateinitsaridity。Wepassedthroughtheruinsofanancientcityoverwhichtheploughhadtriumphed,andliterallynotonestonewasleftuponanother。Afewstonecolumnsofaroughdescription,someofwhichwerebroken,werelyinginvariousdirections,andInoticedalowermillstoneformedofanexceedinglyhardconglomeraterock;thesepiecesweretooheavytomovewithoutgreatexertions,thereforetheyhadremainedinsitu。
AfterashortmarchofthreemileswearrivedatthesteepbanksoftheriveramileabovethevillageofArpera。Thebedofthisriverwasaboutfortyfeetbelowthelevelofthecountry,andhereourfirstrealdifficultycommencedindescendingaruggedandprecipitoustrack,whichatfirstsightappeareddestructivetoanysprings。Thegipsy-vanwasconductedbytheownerofthefinepairofbullocks;butthisfellow(Theodoris)wasanobstinateandutterlyrecklesscharacter,andinsteadofobeyingorderstogosteadilywiththedragonthewheels,heputhisanimalsintoagallopdownthesteepdescent,withtheintentionofgainingsufficientmomentumtocrossthesandybottomandtoascendtheotherside。Iftheoriginalgipsyproprietorcouldhaveseenhisvanleapingandtossinglikeashipinaheavysea,withthefranticdrivershoutingandyellingathisbullockswhileheacceleratedtheirgallopbyasharpapplicationoftheneedle-pointeddrivingprick,hewouldhaveconsidereditthelastmomentofhismovablehome。Ididthesame;
but,tomyastonishment,thevehicle,afterboundingmadlyabout,simplyturnedtheinsanedriverheadoverheelsintotheriver\'sbed,andthebullocksfoundthemselvesanchoredinthesandontheoppositeside。
GloverBrothers\'bluevanwasdrivenbyafinefellow,Georgi,whowasofasteadydisposition;andthisveryhandyandwellconstructedcarriagemadenothingofthedifficulty。Georgiwasahandsomeandexceedinglypowerfulman,upwardsofsixfeethigh,ofamostamiabledisposition,whoalwaystriedtodohisbest;butthetruthmustbetold,hewasstupid:hebecameaslavetothesuperiorintellectofthebare-brainedrascalofthegipsy-van。WhyamiablepeopleshouldsofrequentlybestupidIcannotconceive:perhapsafewaresharp;butGeorgi,poorfellow,hadallinboneandmuscle,andnotinbrain。
Thereisgreatadvantageintravellingwithmorethanonevehicle,asinanydifficultythenumerousanimalscanbeharnessedtogetherandtheircombinedpowerwilldragasinglecartorcarriagethroughanyobstacle。
Thusonebyonethevansweretuggedupthesteepbankontheoppositeside,andafteradragacrossploughedfieldsfornearlyamilewehaltedontheedgeofacliffandcampedexactlyabovetheriver。
Althoughthebedwasdrybelowthispoint,wefoundafaintstreamofclearwateraboveourposition,whichwassubsequentlyabsorbedbythesand。Thecliffswerenotperpendicular,butwerebrokenintosteepdeclivitiesfromsuccessivelandslips:thesideswerecoveredwiththeusualpricklyplants,buttheedgesofthestreamwerethicklybushedwitholeanderswhichaffordedexcellentcovertforgame。
IntravellingthroughCyprusthereisadepressingaspectinthegeneraldecayandruinofformerworks。Istrolledwithmydogsforsomemilesalongtheriverbanks,andexaminedthestrongmasonryremainsofmanyoldwater-mills。Ifoundawell-constructedaqueductofwonderfullyhardcementatthebottomofacliffclosetothepresentbedoftheriver:
thismustataformerperiodhavepassedbelowthebed,andthedeepeningofthestreamhasexposedandwashedawaytheancientwork。
Therewasnogamebeyondafewwildred-leggedpartridges,althoughtheappearanceofthecountryhadraisedmyexpectations。
OnthefollowingmorningIrambledwiththedogsformanyhoursovertherangeofhillswhichboundstheplainuponthenorth,andfromwhichtheriverissues。Thesearecompletelydenudedofsoil,andpresentaglaringsurfaceofhardenedchalk,inthecrevicesofwhichtheusualpricklyplantscanaloneexist。Someofthehill-topsexposedasmoothnaturalpavementwheretherainhadwashedawayallsolubleportionsandleftthebarefoundationcrackedinsmalldivisionsasthoughartificiallyinlaid。NowandthenawretchedspecimenofthePinusMaritima,aboutsixfeethigh,wastobeseenvainlyendeavouringtofindnourishmentinthecleftsofthebarrenrocks。IdonotbelievethetalesofforestshavingformerlyexisteduponthegreaterportionofCyprus:itwouldcertainlybeimpossibleforanyspeciesoftreetothriveupontheextensiverangeofhillsnearArpera,whichareabsolutelyvalueless。
Inmanyplacesthesurfaceglistenedwithice-likesheetsofgypsum,whichcroppedoutofthecoldwhitemarlsandproducedawintryappearancethatincreasedthedesolation。Iwalkedforsomehoursoversuccessiverangesofthesamehopelesscharacter。Greatnumbersofhawksandseveralvarietiesofeagleswerehuntingabovethehill-tops,andsufficientlyexplainedthescarcityofgame。Thered-leggedpartridgesfoundlittleprotectioninthescantcoveraffordedbythewitheredplants,andIsawonecapturedandcarriedoffbyaneagle,whowasimmediatelychasedbytwoothersofthesamespecies,inthevainhopethathewouldgiveuphisprize;hesoaredhighinairwiththepartridgehangingfromhisclaws。OnthesamedayIsawanothercapture,andtherecanbelittledoubtthatthepartridgeformstheusualfoodoftheselargebirdsofprey。TheBritishgovernmenthasalreadyprotectedthegamebyestablishingacloseseasonandbyataxuponallguns;buttherewillbelittlebenefitfromthenewlawunlessarewardshallbeofferedforthedestructionofthebirdsofpreywhichswarmineveryportionoftheisland——eagles,falcons,kites,hawks,ravens,crows,andlast,butincunninganddestructivepropensitynottheleast,the“magpies。“Thesebirdsexistinsuchnumbersthatunlessstepsaretakentodestroythemitwillbehopelesstoexpectanyincreaseofgame。Whenamagpiewakesintheearlymorninghisfirstthoughtismischief,andduringthebreedingseasonthereisnobirdwhomakesegg-huntingsoespeciallyhisoccupation。UponthetreelessplainsofCypruseverynestisathismercy。
Fromthebaseofthebarrenhill-rangeafertileplainslopestowardstheseaforawidthofaboutfourmiles,havingreceivedthesoilthathasbeenwashedfromthedenudedheights。Thisrichsurfaceiscultivatedwithcereals,butthereareconsiderableportionswhicharecoveredwithadensemassofthistles,asthelandisallowedtorestforacoupleofyearsafterhavingbeenexhaustedbyseveralcropswithoutmanuring。OnthelowlandsofCyprusnearlyeveryplantorbushisarmedwiththorns。Ihavegenerallyobservedthatathornyvegetationisaproofofaburningclimatewithaslightrainfall。InthescorchingdistrictsoftheSoudanthereishardlyatreewithoutthornstothetenthdegreeofnorthlatitude,atwhichlimittherainfallisgreatandthevegetationchangesitscharacter。TheCypriotesofbothsexeswearhighbootstothekneesasaprotectionfromthecountlessthistles,andnotasanarmouragainstsnakes,assomewritershaveassumed。Thesebootsarepeculiarintheirconstruction;thesolesareaboutaninchinthickness,formedofseverallayersofleather,whicharefastenedtogetherbylarge-headednailsfrombeneath;thesearedirectedinanobliqueline,soastopassthroughtheedgeoftheupperleatherandsecureittothesoleexactlyastheshoeofahorseisfittedtothehoof。Thenailsarelongandthin,andarerivetedbyturningthepointsroundandhammeringthemlikeacoilupontheleather;theheadsofthesenailsarenearlyaslargeasashilling,andthebootsareexceedinglyclumsy;buttheyincreasetheheightofthewearerbyafullinch。
Myamiabledriverofthebluevan,Georgi,accompaniedmeinmywalk,andfiredseveraluselessshotsatwildpartridges。WenowarrivedatthespotwherethewaterisledbyasubterraneanaqueducttoLarnaca。
Thisprincipleissooriginal,andhasfromsuchremotetimesbeenadoptedinthisaridisland,thatitmeritsadetaileddescription。TheancientvestigesofsimilarworksineveryportionofCyprusprovethatinallagestherainfallmusthavebeenuncertain,andthatnoimportantchangehastakenplaceinthemeteorologicalconditionofthecountry。
Inasearchforwater-springstheCyprioteismostintelligent,andthetalentappearstobehereditary。Ifawellissuccessfulatanelevationthatwillenablethewatertocommandlowerlevelsatadistance,itmaybeeasilyunderstoodthatthesupplyofonewellrepresentingaunitmustbelimited。TheCypriotewell-sinkerworksuponaprincipleofsimplemultiplication。Ifonewellproducesacertainflow,tenwellswillmultiplythevolume,ifconnectedbyasubterraneantunnel,andprovidedthesupplyofwaterinthespringisunlimited。
ItappearsthatCyprusexhibitsananomalyinthepeculiarityofasmallrainfallbutgreatsubterraneanwater-power;somestratumthatisimperviousretainsthewateratdepthsvaryingaccordingtolocalconditions。Thewell-sinkercommencesbyboring,orratherdigging,acircularholetwofeetsixinchesindiameter。ThesoilofCyprusissotenaciousthatthewallsoftheshaftrequirenoartificialsupport;
thismuchfacilitatesthework,andthelabourer,armedwithaveryshort-handledpick,patientlyhackshisverticalway,andsendsuptheearthbymeansofabasketandrope,drawnbyaprimitivebuteffectivewindlassabove,formedofacradleofhorizontalwoodenbars。Themaninchargesimplyturnsthewindlasswithoutahandle,byclutchingeachsuccessivebar,which,actingasarevolvinglever,windsuptheropewiththeweightattached。
Therapidityofthewell-sinkingnaturallydependsuponthequalityofthesoil;ifrockistobecutthrough,itisworkedwithamason\'saxeandthecoldchisel。Fortunatelythegeologicalformationisprincipallysedimentarylimestone,whichoffersnogreatresistance。Atlengththewaterisreached。Thewellisnowleftopenforafewdaysthatanopinionmaybeformedofthepower;iffavourable,anotherpreciselysimilarwellissunkatadistanceoffifteenorsixteenyardsinthedirectiontowardsthepointrequiredbythefutureaqueduct。Thespringbeingsatisfactory,theworkproceedswithvigour。Wewillacceptthefirstwellasfortyfeetindepth;ifthesurfaceoftheearthwereanexactlevel,thenextwellwouldbeanequaldepth;butasthewaterretainsitsnaturallevel,theverticalmeasurementofeachshaftwilldependupontheformationoftheupperground。Theobjectofthewell-sinkeristocreateachainofwellsunitedbyasubterraneantunnel,inordertomultiplythepowerofaunitandtoobtaintheentiresupplyofwater;hethereforesinksperhapstenortwentywellstothesamelevel,andhecutsanarrowtunnelfromonetotheother,thusconnectinghisshaftsatthewater-line,soastoformacanaloraqueduct。Preciselyasthemoleupheavesatcertainintervalstheearththatithasscrapedfromitsgallery,thewell-sinkerclearshistunnelbysendingupthecontentsthroughtheverticalshaftsfifteenyardsapart,aroundthemouthofwhichafunnel-shapedmoundisformedbythedebris。
Thesepreliminarywallsbeingcompletedandthewater-volumetested,theneighbourhoodisexaminedwiththehopeofdiscoveringotherspringsthatmayuponthesameprinciplebeconductedtowardsthemainlineoftheproposedaqueduct。Itisnotuncommontofindseveralchainsofwellsconvergingfromdifferentlocalitiestothedesiredwater-head,andastheseareathigherlevels,aconsiderablehydraulicpowerisobtained,sufficientinmanyinstancesnotonlytofillthetunnels,buttoforcethewatertoagreaterelevationifrequired。
Thewater-headbeingthoroughlyestablished,thesinkingofachainofwellsproceeds,andthetunnelsarearrangedatagiveninclinationtoconductthewatertothedestinedspot。Thismaybemanymilesdistant,necessitatingmanyhundredwells,whichmaycomprisegreatsuperficialchanges;hillsthatareboredthroughnecessitatedeepshafts,andvalleysmustbespannedbyaqueductsofmasonry。InthismannerthewaterisconductedfromthespringsofArperanearthespotwheretheriverissuesfromthenarrowvalleyamongthehills,andsuppliesLarnaca,abouteightmilesdistantfromthefirsthead。TheBritishauthoritiesproposetosubstituteironpipesforthepresentaqueduct;
butitistobehopedthatthenewschemewillbeanindependentandadditionalwork,thatwillinnowayinterferewiththeimportantgiftofCheflikPacha,whichhasexistedfornearlytwocenturies,andwhich,ifkeptinrepair,willsupplythenecessaryvolume。