第6章

类别:其他 作者:Sir Samuel W。 Baker字数:31393更新时间:18/12/21 14:30:49
Aresponsibleofficialwouldreply——“Wewillgiveyouaconcession,wewillgiveyoueverypossibleencouragement。“Thecapitalistwillaskonesimplequestion,“IsCyprusaportionoftheBritishEmpireuponwhichI candepend,orisitaswallow\'snestofapoliticalseason,tobeabandonedwhentheparty-schemeshaveflown?” Anynumberofquestionsmaybeaskedatthepresentmoment,butintheabsenceofalldefiniteinformationnocapitalistwillembarkinanyenterpriseinCyprus,whichmaybeultimatelyabandonedlikeCorfu;andthevalueofallpropertywouldbereducedtoaruinousdegree。 ThemininginterestsofCyprusmustremainforthemostpartundevelopeduntilsomesatisfactorychangeshallbeeffectedinthetenureoftheislandthatwillestablishconfidence。 Poliswasastragglingplacesituateduponeithersideofariver,throughthebedofwhichaveryreducedstreamwasflowingaboutthreeinchesindepth。Aflatvalleylaybetweentheheights,bothofwhichwereoccupiedbynumeroushousesandnarrowlanes,whiletherichsoilofthelowground,irrigatedbythewateroftheriverwithdrawnbyartificialchannels,exhibitedsplendidcropsofwheatandbarley。 Grovesofveryancientolive-treesexistedinthevalley,andwehaltedbeneaththefirstoak-treesthatIhadseeninCyprus。Thesewerewide- spreading,althoughnothigh,andImeasuredthegirthofonesolidstem——eighteenfeet。 Wehadhardlyoff-saddled,whencrowdsofwomenandchildrencollectedfromallquarters,withafewmen,tostareatthenew-comers;notatME personally,butatmywife。Theywere,ifpossible,morefilthythantheaverageofCyprianwomen,andagreatproportionofthechildrenweremarkedwithrecentattacksofsmall-pox。IregrettedthatIhadnotasupplyofcrackerstothrowamongstanddispersethecrowdthatdailypesteredus;anyladythatinfuturemaytravelthroughCyprusshouldhaveaportmanteaufullofsuchsimplefireworks。Itwasinvaintoexplainthatthepeoplewereanuisanceiftoonear:whendriventoamoderatedistance,theywouldadvanceshyly,bydegrees;twoorthreechildrenwouldcomeforwardandsitdownafewpacesinfrontofthemainbody;afterafewminutesseveralotherswouldoverstepthisfrontierandsitdownfiveorsixyardsinadvanceofthelastcomers,andbythissilentsystemofskirmishingwewerealwayssurroundedintwentyminutesaftertheoriginalcrowdhadbeendispersed。Ididnotmindthemsolongastheywerenotinpersonalcontact,andwerefreefromrecentsmall-pox;butsomeofthered-pittedfaceswerefullofwarning。 TherewasnothingofinteresttodetainusatPolis,andwestartedearlyuponthe19thApriltowardsBaffo。ThevalleythroughwhichtheriverAspropotamohaddepositedalayeroffertilealluviumdividedthemountainrange,leavingtheplutonicrockstotheeast;andonthewesternsideweascendedasteeppathovercretaceouslimestone,brokenanddisturbedatintervalsbytheprotrusionoferuptiverocks。AsweincreasedouraltitudewelookeddownuponapicturesqueviewofthebayofKrysokhus,withtwosailsuponitsbluewatersbeneaththedarkcliffsofthewesternshore。TheancientMariumorArsinoeshowednovestigesexceptinthemodernvillageofPolis,which,fromthedistance,lookedbetterthanthereality,asthefoliageofnumeroustreesshadowingtheterrace-builthousesuponeithersidetherichgreenvalley,backedbytheloftyrangeofpine-coveredmountains,completedalovelylandscape。 Anhourhadpassed,butstillweascended;thepathwasasusualrugged,andwealreadylookeddownupontheseaandvalleyatleast2000feetbeneath。Ihadseriousmisgivingsconcerningthecamelsandtheirloads。 GeneraldiCesnolahadexaminedthewholeofthiscountryinhissearchforantiquities,buttheneighbourhoodoftheancientArsinoe,wheremuchhadbeenexpected,wasalmostunproductive。 Thepathstillrose;untilatlengthwearriveduponanextensiveplateauabout2400feetabovethesea。Thesoilwaschocolate-colour,andthesurfacewascoveredwithlargestonesofthesedimentarylimestonethatsurroundsthecoast,andwhichformstheflat-toppedhillsoftheMessaria。Inmanyplacesthenativeshadbuilttheseintowallsaroundtheirfields,inordertoclearthegroundrequiredforcultivation。Wepassedseveralvillages,allsqualidandmiserable,althoughtherichsoilexhibitedgreencropsfarsuperiortoanythingwehadmetwithinthelowercountry。Extensivegardensofmulberryexplainedthesilk-producingpowerofthisneighbourhood,andalmonds,figs,apricots,&c。,throveingreatnumbersandluxuriance。Thispeculiarlyfruitfulplateauoccupiesanareaofabouteightmilesfromnorthtosouth,andfourfromeasttowest。WehaltedatthelargeTurkishvillageofArodes,fromwhichwelookeddownupontheseaandthesmallrockyislandoppositeCapeDrepano,onthewesterncoast,almostbeneathourfeet。ThisportionofCyprusiseminentlyadaptedforthecultivationoffruit-trees,astheclimateandsoilcombinemanyadvantages。Theelevationandpeculiargeographicalpositionattractmoisture,whilethelowergroundupontheeastisparchedwithdrought。 Theevaporationfromtheseabelowcondensesuponthecoolerheightsimmediatelyaboveandcreatesrefreshingmistsandlightrain,whichaccountedforthesuperiorityofthecropscomparedwithanythatIhadseenelsewhere。ShortlyafterhaltingatArodesweexperiencedtheseatmosphericalchanges。ThethermometeratPolishadbeen57degreesat7 A。M。,anditwasonly56degreesat3P。M。atthisaltitudeof2400 feet。Althoughtheskyhadbeenclear,mistsbegantoascendfromthechasmsandgulliesalongtheabruptfaceofthemountainwhichoverhungthesea;thesecurledupwardsandthickened,untiladensefogrolledalongthesurfacefromthewestandcondensedintoalightshowerofrain。TheTurkishinhabitantsofthevillagewereextremelycivil,andmadenocomplaintsofscarcityfromdrought,astheyfullyappreciatedtheadvantagesoftheirlocality。Thehawthorn-treeswereonlyjustbuddingintobloom,whilethoseinthelowcountryhadshedtheirflowers,andhadalreadyformedtheberries。InfutureanextensivegrowthoffruitmaysupplythemarketofAlexandria,butatpresentthetotalabsenceofroadswouldrenderthetransportofsoperishableamaterialuponthebacksofmulesimpossible。Ihadsentbackourthreeridingmulestomeetandtorelievethecamels,andbythisprecautionthebaggageanimalsarrivedataconvenienthour。 TheroutetoBaffoorKtima,whichisnowtheprincipaltown,layacrosstheplateauforaboutfivemilestothevergewhichformedthetable-land,fromwhichmarginwelookeddownuponthedeepvalebelow,boundedbytheseaatafewmilesdistance。 Wedismountedandwalkeddownthelongandsteeppass,themulesbeingledbehind。Theentirefaceoftheperpendicularcliffswascretaceouslimestone,butthescalyslopesofahilluponourleft,aboutamileandahalfdistant,formedalooseheapofshale,whichhadslipped,eitherduringearthquakesorheavyrains,ingreatmassestothebottom。 Afteralongandtediousdescentwereachedthebaseofthepass,andhaltedinabroadriver-bedfullofrocksandstonesofallsizes,whichhadbeenroundedbythetorrentoftherainyseason。Therewasnowaterexceptinsmallpoolsthathadbeenscrapedinthesandforthebenefitofthetravellinganimals。Havingwateredourmulesandremounted,weascendedthesteepbanksofthestreamandcontinuedtowardsthesea,feelingasensibledifferenceinthetemperaturesincewehaddescendedfromtheheights。 Thecountrywasexceedinglypretty,asitslopedgentlydownwardsforthreeorfourmiles,thesurfaceornamentedwithcaroub-trees,untilweatlengthreachedthesea-beachandcrossedthesandymouthoftheriver\'sbed。Thecropsofcerealswereperishedbydroughtintheabsenceofirrigation;butuponcontinuingourrouteparallelwiththebeachweobservedanimmediateimprovement,asthewaterwasconductedbyartificialchannelstothevariousfields。Thisarrangementhadbeeneffectedbyerectingatemporarydamintheriver\'sbedfaramongthemountains,andthusleadingthestreamintotheconduitformanymiles。 Smallbrooksintersectedourpathalongthecoast,andinseveralplacesIremarkedtheruinsofancientaqueducts……Therewasnothingofpeculiarinterestuponthisroute;thelandinclinedupwardsfromtheseaforsixorsevenmilestothefootofthemountainrange,allofwhichwaseithercultivatedwithcerealsorwascoveredwithcaroub- treesandolives。Manyvillagesweredottedoverthesurface;theseweregreenwithmulberryandvariousfruit-trees。Withtheseauponourright,andthewavesdashingbrisklyupontherockyshore,thescenewasagreeable;butthesunwashot,andwewerenotsorrytoseethedistantminaretsofKtimaafterarideofseventeenmilesfromArodes。 WepassedtheruinsofancientPaphosuponourright,andshortlyafterwardsascendedtherockyslopeuponwhichthecapitalofthedistrict,Ktima,issituated。Itisalargetown,andaswerodethroughthebazaarthenarrowstreetwasalmostblockedwithhugepilesoforangesthathadbeenimportedfromJaffa,theseasonfortheCyprusfruitbeingnearlyover。 Iianiwasexceedinglystupidinselectingcamping-ground,thereforeuponarrivalatanewplaceweinvariablyhadtoexploretheneighbourhood,likemigratorybirdslandeduponstrangeshores。WeaccordinglyrodethroughtheconsiderabletownofKtimaamidstthebarkingandsnappingofinnumerabledogs,whoattackedourBritishspaniels,keepinguparunningfightthroughouttheway,untilweemergeduponopencountrybeyondtheoutskirts。 Wewerenowoncemoreuponaflattable-top,aboutahundredfeetabovetheplainbetweenusandthesea,amileandahalfdistant。Theedgeofthetable-landformedacliff,chokedfromitsbasewithhugefallenblocksofsedimentarylimestone,fromthecrevicesofwhichtreesgrewingreatprofusion,remindingoneofhangingcovertsuponhill-sidesinEngland。Descendingasteepbutwell-troddenpathbetweenthesecottage-likemassesofdisjointedrock,wearrivedattheprettiestcamping-groundthatIhadseeninCyprus。ThishadformedthecampoftheIndiantroopswhentheoccupationhadtakenplaceinJuly,1878,andunfortunatelyinthischarmingspottheyhadsufferedseverelyfromfever。 TheseaandthetownandportofBaffolaybeforeus,butimmediatelyinfrontoftherockyandtree-coveredheightsthatwehaddescendedweregreatnumbersofpark-liketreeswhichIhadneverbeforemetwith。 Thesewereoflargesize,manyexceedingfourteenfeetingirth,withabeautifulfoliagethatthrewadenseshadebeneath。ThenameofthistreeisTremithia,anditbearsasmallfruitinclustersofberrieswhichproduceoil:thisisusedbytheinhabitantsforthesamepurposesasthatobtainedfromolives。IhadmetwiththebushinawildstateforthefirsttimeatLapithus,andhadbeenattractedbythearomaticscentoftheyoungleaves,butIwasnotawarethatitgrewtothesizeofaforest-tree。Springsofpurewaterissuedfromtherocksinthecliff-sidewithinafewyardsofourposition;thesewerecaughtinlargereservoirsofmasonryfromtwentytothirtyfeetsquareandsixfeetdeep,fromthebottomofwhichthewatercouldbeliberatedforthepurposesofirrigation。Weselectedapositionuponaterracebeneathanumberofthesesplendidtremithias,whichaffordedashadeduringallhoursoftheday。Thelittlestreamrippledjustbelow,passingbytherootsofthetreesthatshelteredus,andwateredarichanddarkgreenplotofabouttwoacresof——neitherroses,norviolets,butsomethingfarbetter,whichatoncedelightedourcookChristo——onions!AccordingtohispracticalideastheGardenofEdenwouldhavebeenamerewildernessintheabsenceofabedofonions;butatlengthwehadentereduponParadise;thisWASacharmingplace!Forsomedistancebeyondthiscaptivatingplotthetremithias(whichatadistanceresembledfine-headedoaks)ornamentedthesurfaceandgaveapark-likeappearancetothecountry;butbeyondthemtheplainwasagentleslope,highlycultivatedtowardsthesea。Longbeforethearrivalofourbaggageanimalswehadvisitors;CaptainWauchope,thechiefcommissionerofthedistrict,andseveralofficersinofficialpositions,werekindenoughtocall。Anoldmanandhiswife,theproprietorsoftheonions,wholivedcloseby,broughtussomerush-bottomedchairswithmuchcivility;andasthedayworeonalongstringofvisitorsappeared,includingtheBishopandsomeofthenativeofficials;andwewereofcoursesurroundedwiththeusualthrongofwomenandchildren:thesewerecleanerandbetterlookingthanthosewehadhithertoencountered。 Thecamelsdidnotappearuntillateintheevening,astheyhaddescendedthesteeppassfromthetable-landofArodeswithmuchdifficulty,andliani\'s“antique“hadagainfallen,repeatedly,andnecessitatedadivisionofhisload,whichalreadyhadbeenreducedtothatofadonkey。 WhenthesunroseonthefollowingmorningIwalkedintoKtimabyagoodpath,thatledthroughtherocksalongthebaseofthecliffuntilitascendedgraduallytothetown。Althoughthecyclamenswerepasttheirbloom,theirvariegatedleavesornamentedthewhitestonesastheyemergedlikebouquetsfromthecrevicesoffallenrock。Therewaslittleofinterestinthetown,whichhardlyrepaidawalk:itleftthesamedepressingfeelingthatIhadsooftenexperiencedinourjourneythroughCyprus:“Thepasthadbeengreat,andthepresentwasnothing。“ Thelittleinsignificantharbourexhibitedafewsmallcraftofabouttwentytons。TherewasasmallfortandaBritishflag;therewerealsotheruinsofancientPaphos;buttherewasnothingtodenoteprogressorcommercialactivity。IntheafternoonCaptainWauchopewaskindenoughtoaccompanyusovertheruins。AsIhavebeforeexplained,thereisnothingofinterestuponthesurfaceofancientcitiesthroughoutCyprus。Anythingworthhavinghasbeenappropriatedmanyagessincebythosewhounderstooditsvalue,andbeyondafewfallencolumnsandblocksofsquaredstonethereisliterallynothingtoattractattention。 EvenGeneraldiCesnolaexcavatedinvainuponthesiteofancientPaphos,whichfromitsgreatantiquitypromisedanabundantharvest。 Thereweretwofinemonoliths,thebasesofwhich,restinguponafoundationofsquaredstones,appearedasthoughtheyhadformedtheentrancetoatemple;thesewerepillarsofgreygranite(foreigntoCyprus)abouttwenty-sevenfeethighandthreefeettwoinchesindiameter。 Therewerestonymoundsinmanydirections,andfallenpillarsandcolumnsofgraniteandofcoarsegreyandwhitishmarble;butbeyondtheseordinaryvestigestherewasnothingofpeculiarinterest。AsthereisnoauthorityequaltoGeneraldiCesnolaupontheantiquitiesofCyprus,Itrusthewillexcusemeforinsertingthefollowinginterestingextractfromhiswork,uponTheGreatCentreoftheWorshipofVenus:—— “Althoughthisspot[Paphos]wasthesceneofgreatreligiousevents,andwasotherwiseimportantintheisland,yetneitheraretheremorethanaveryfewruinsexistingaboveground,norhavetheexplorationsIhavedirectedthereatdifferenttimessucceededinbringingtolightanythingofinterest。Ibelievethatthisabsenceofruinscanbeaccountedforinthefollowingmanner。Paphoswasseveraltimesoverthrownbyearthquakes。ThelasttimethetemplewasrebuiltwasbyVespasian,onwhosecoinsitisrepresented;butasnothingissaidoftherebuildingofthecityitissupposedthatitwasleftinruins;probablythereforeduringthelongperiodthatCypruswasundertheRomanandtheByzantineruleagreatdealofthedecorativeandarchitecturalmaterialofPaphoswastransportedtotheothercitycalledNea-Paphos,andusedforitsembellishment。IntheActsoftheApostlesitisspokenofastheofficialresidenceoftheRomanproconsulPaulusSergius,andwasthereforethecapitaloftheisland。BythetimeoftheLusignankingsPalaeo-Paphoshaddisappeared,anditsruinsundertheirreignwereextensivelyexploredinsearchofstatuaryandotherobjectsofart,withwhichtodecoratetheroyalcastlebuiltinitsvicinity。ThereisscarcelyanyancienttombtobefoundofadateprevioustotheRomanperiodwhichhadnotbeenopenedcenturiesago。“ Inpage207GeneraldiCesnolagivesanillustrationof“stonefeetwithaCyprioteinscription,fromthetempleofPaphos,“whichwouldsuggestfromtheirappearancethatgoutwasnotuncommonevenwithinthetempleofVenus。Incontinuationhewrites,page210:—— “ThegreattempleofVenuswassituatedonaneminence,whichatpresentisatadistanceofabouttwenty-fiveminutes\'walkfromthesea。Somepartsofitscolossalwallsarestillstanding,defyingtimeandthestone-cutter,thoughbadlychippedbythelatter。 Oneofthewall-stonesmeasuredfifteenfeetteninchesinlength,bysevenfeeteleveninchesinwidthandtwofeetfiveinchesinthickness。ThestoneisnotfromCyprus,butbeingakindofbluegranite,musthavebeenimportedeitherfromCiliciaorfromEgypt。 “ThetempleasrebuiltbyVespasianseemstohaveoccupiedthesameareaastheformertemple,andwassurroundedbyaperibolos,orouterwall。Ofthisafewhugeblocksonlyarenowextant。Onthewestsideofthisouterwalltherewasadoorwaystillplainlyvisible。Itswidthwasseventeenfeetnineinches。Thetwosocketsfortheboltsuponwhichthedoorswungareofthefollowingdimensions: lengthsixinches,widthfourandahalfinches,depththreeandahalfinches。Thesouth-eastwall,Iascertained,byexcavatingitswholelength,was690feetlong。ThelengthofthewestsideIcouldonlytraceasfaras272feet,itscontinuancebeinghiddenbeneaththehousesofKouklia。ThelengthoftheothertwosidesIwasunabletoascertainforsimilarreasons。 Thewallsofthetempleitself,madeofthekindofstonepreviouslymentioned,butnotinsuchhugeblocks,Iwasabletotracecorrectly,bydintofpatience;andthoughverylittleisseenaboveground,yet,strangetosay,thefourcorner-stonesarestillstanding。Thenorth-eastcorner-stoneiscasedinahouseinKouklia,formingpartofitswall;thatofthenorth-weststandsinacross-streetofthevillagebyitself。SomeEuropeantravellershavemistakenitfromitspresentshapefortheemblematicconeofVenus。Thesouth-eastcornerstandsalsobyitselfinanopenfield,wheretheChristianpopulationofKoukliaburnlampsandlittlewax-candles,butinhonourofwhom,orforwhatpurpose,Ididnotinquire。Thefourthcorner-stonelikewiseformspartofamoderndwelling-house。 “Thetemplewasoblongandofthefollowingdimensions:theeasternandwesternwallsmeasure221feet,andthetwoothersides167feet。IcannotvouchfortheexactmeasurementonaccountofthedifficultiesIhadtoencounter,neverthelessthedifferencecanbeofsomeinchesonly。Thecorner-stoneofthenorth-westsidehasaholeinitthirteeninchesindiameter;asimilarholealsoexistsinthesouth-westcorneroftheouterwall。AsthetempleatPaphospossessedanoracle,thesestrangeholes,whichgothroughtheentirestone,mayhavebeenconnectedwithit。ThisatleastwastheopinionofDr。 FriederichswhenhecametopaymeavisitatPaphos。 “Fromthisspot,ifapersonstanduponthishugeperforatedstone,hecanproduceaclearandfineechoofaphraseofthreeorfourwords,pronouncedinahollowtoneofvoice。“ Itisquitepossiblethatthetricksofacousticsmayhavebeenpractisedbythepriestswhoofficiatedatoracularshrines,whichwouldhaveawedtheignorantmultitude;asinsacredgrovesatreemighthavebeenmadetospeakbythesimplecontrivanceofamanconcealedwithinthehollowstem,whichtooutwardappearancewouldhavebeenconsideredsolid。Thedevicesofpriestcrafttobringgristtotheirmillarenotyetobsolete,aswillbeseeninmanyofthemonasteriesofCyprus。 AllthegrandeurofancientdayswasnowrepresentedbytheheapsofstonesandtherockcavernswhichmarkthesiteofPaphos。WhatbecameofVenusafterherappearanceuponthisshoremaybelefttotheimagination;whysheisrepresentedbytheexceedinglyplainwomenofmodernCyprussurpassestheimagination。Perhapstheimmoralityconnectedwiththeancientworshipofthegoddessofbeautyandofloveinvokedacurseuponthedescendantsintheshapeof“baggytrousers,highboots,andugliness:“towhichdirthasbeenapainfuladdition。 CHAPTERIX。 FROMBAFFOTOLIMASOL。 WeleftKtimaon23rdAprilforLimasol。Theweatherwasnowperfectforout-doorlife,thethermometer52degreesat7A。M。,and70degreesat3 P。M。Theroutewasagreeable,thecropswerewellirrigatedbynumerousstreamsledfromthemountains,andthecountrygenerallywasgreenandwellwooded。Afteramarchoffourteenmiles,duringwhichwehadpassedtheruinsofseveralancientaqueducts,wearrivedatarunningstreamwhichissuedfromanarrowvalleybetweencliffsandhillsandemptieditselfuponthesea-beach。Anumberoftamarisksformedajunglenearthemouth,andthebankswereabrightrose-colour,owingtothefullbloomofthicketsofoleanders。Thiswasacharminghalting-place,andasthebeachwasstrewnwithdrytimberthathadbeenbroughtdownfromthemountainsduringtheseasonwhenthestreamwaspowerful,weshouldhaveagoodsupplyoffuelinadditiontofreshwater。TheroutehadbeenalongtheflatparallelwiththeseafromKtima,andInoticedawonderfulchangeinthepaceofthecamels,asIhadsummonedIianiwhenatthecapitalofthedistrictbeforetheCadiattheKonak,andthechiefcommissionerhadaddedhisvoicetothethreatandmonitionshehadreceivedconcerninghisfutureconductregardingearlystartingandattentiontomyorders。CaptainWauchopehadkindlyfurnishedmewithanexcellentTurkishzaphtieh,ormountedpoliceman,whoseredjacketandfezcommandedacertainrespect。Thismanwasmounteduponastrong,well-built,andexceedinglyactivepony,orsmallhorse,whichledtheway,asournewguidethoroughlyknewthecountry。 Whileallhandswerepitchingthetentuponasandyturfwithinafewyardsofthesea-beachItookthedogsforarambleupthethickly-woodedvalleyalongthebanksofthestream,asIhadobservedanumberofblue-rockpigeonsamongthewhitecliffs,andIthoughtI mightperhapsfindaharefortheeveningstew。Ikilledsomepigeons,butdidnotmoveahare,althoughthedogsworkedthroughmostpromisingground,wheregreencropsupontheflatbottomsurroundedbythickcovertsaffordbothfoodandshelter。WewerereturningtocampwhenI suddenlyheardMerryandShotbarkingsavagelyinsomethickbushesuponthesteepbankofthestream。AtfirstIthoughttheyhadfoundahedgehog,whichwasalwaysShot\'samusement,asheconstantlybroughtthemintocampafterhehadmanagedtoobtainaholdoftheirpricklybodies。Thebarkingcontinued,andasIcouldnotpenetratethebush,I calledthedogsoff。Theyjoinedmealmostimmediately,lookingratherscared。Itnowoccurredtomethattheymighthavefoundasnake,asafewdaysagoIhadheardMerrybarkinginasimilarmanner,anduponjoininghimIhaddiscoveredasnakecoiledupwithheaderectinanattitudeofdefence。Ihadkilledthesnakeandscoldedthedog,asI fearedhewouldcometoanuntimelyend,shouldhecommencesnake- huntinginsoprolificafieldasCyprus。Sincethattimeallthedogshuntedthecountlesslizardswhichranacrossthepathduringthemarch,andShotwasmostdeterminedinhisendeavourstoscratchthemoutoftheirholes。 Ihadcalledmythreedogstogether,andwewerewalkingacrossafieldofgreenwheat,whenIsuddenlymissedShot,andhewasdiscoveredlyingdownaboutfiftypacesinourrear。Merry,whousuallywaspluckandenergyitself,wasfollowingatmyheelsandlookingstupidandsubdued。 Thisdogwasindomitable,andhisfaultwaswildnessatthecommencementoftheday;Icouldnotnowinducehimtohunt,andhiseyeshadapeculiarexpression,asthoughhissystemhadsufferedsomesevereshock。ShotcameslowlywhenIcalledhim,buthewalkedwithdifficulty,andhisjawswereswollen。Inowfeltsurethatthedogswerebittenbyasnake,whichtheyhadbeenbayingwhenIheardtheminthebushaboutfiveminutesbefore。Wewereverynearthecamp,andthedogcrepthomeslowlyatmyheels。Uponexaminationtherewasnodoubtofthecause;Shothadwoundsofasnake\'sfangsuponhislip,undertheeye,andupononeear;hemusthavebeenthefirstbitten,ashehadevidentlyreceivedthegreatestdischargeofpoison。Merrywasbitteninthemouthandinoneear,bothofwhichwerealreadyswollen,butnottothesamedegreeasShot,who,withinanhour,hadaheadaslargeasasmallcalf\'s,andhiseyeswerecompletelyclosed。Ihadnottheslightesthopeofhisrecovery,ashisthroathadswollentoanenormoussize,whichthreatenedsuffocation。Icoulddonothingforthepoordogsbutoiltheirmouths,althoughknewthatthepoisonwouldassuredlyspreadthroughoutthesystem。Thedogshadbeenbittenatabout3。40 P。M。At8P。M。(ourdinner-hour)Shotwasashapelessmass,andhislimbswerestiff;theskinofhisthroatandfore-partofhisbodybeneathhiscurlywhiteandliver-colouredhairwasperfectlyblack;hisjowl,whichnowhungthreeinchesbelowhisjaws,wasalsoinkyblack,aswerehisswollentongueandpalate。Merry\'sheadandthroatwereswollenbadly,andhelaybytheblazingfireoflogshalfstupefiedanddevoidofobservation。 OnthefollowingmorningShotwasevidentlydying;hedidnotappeartosufferpain,butwasinastateofcomaandswelledtosuchadegreethatheresembledtheskinofananimalthathadbeenbadlystuffedwithhay。Merrywasworsethanontheprecedingnight,andlayinastateofstupor。Icarriedhimtotheseaanddippedhimseveraltimesbeneaththewater;thisappearedslightlytorevivehim,andhewasplacedinalargesaddle-bagtobecarriedonamulefortheday\'smarch。Shothadbeenquiteunconscious,andwhenthemenpreparedananimaltocarryhim,itwasfoundthathewasalreadydead。Thiswasalittleafter8 A。M。,andhehadbeenbittenatabout3。40P。M。:about16andahalfhourshadelapsed。Mymendugagraveandburiedthepooranimal,whohadbeenafaithfuldogandanexcellentretriever。FromMerry\'sappearanceIexpectedthatweshouldhavetoattendtohisremainsinthesamemannerbeforetheevening。 SnakesareverynumerousinCyprus,butIcannotbelieveinanygreatdangerifthesegenerallyhatedcreaturesshouldbeavoided。Ifdogswillinsistuponhuntingandattackingthem,theymustbebittenasanaturalconsequence;inthisfatalcasetherecanbenodoubtthatthedogShotwasthefirsttodiscoverandattackthesnake,andMerry,uponhearinghimbark,joinedinthefight。Itisquiteunnaturalforanyoftheserpenttribetoattack,exceptforthepurposeofdevouringtheirnaturalprey。Asageneralrule,thefoodofsnakesconsistsofrats,mice,frogs,ortoads,beetles,andotherinsects;thepythonsandlargerserpentsfeeduponsuchanimalsashares,birds,andtheyoungofeitherantelopes,deer,pigs,&c。Althoughasnakeiftroddenuponmightbyaspasmodicimpulseinflictabite,itwouldninetimesoutoftenendeavourtoescape。Theideaofanysnakewilfullyandmaliciouslypremeditatinganattackuponamanisquiteoutofthequestion,unlessithasbeeneitherteasedorexcitedbyadogwhenhunting。Thesameprinciplewillholdgoodinthecaseofanimals。Nosnakethatfeedsonlyuponrats,mice,andsuchsmallanimalswouldseektoattackadog,oranycreaturethatwasnotitsnaturalprey,andtheactualdangerfromsuchreptilesisquiteinsignificant。Thestoriesthatarecirculatedofaccidentsaremostlyexaggerated,orareperpetuatedbyconstantrepetition。IhavebeeninsnakecountriessuchasCeylonandAfricaduringmanyyears,thegreaterportionofwhichhasbeenpassedinpracticalexplorations,andIcansafelysaythatIneverthoughtofsnakesuntiltheymetmyeye,andnopersonthatIeverknewwaskilledbyapoisonousbite。InCyprusthereareseveralvarieties。Ihaveonlyseenthree,ablackspecieswhichisharmless,amottledvarietyalsonon-poisonous,andagreysnakethatissupposedtobedeadly;theremaybemore,butIhavenevermetwiththem。Thestonynatureofthecountry,andthebush-coveredsurfaceofthehills,togetherwiththedrynessoftheclimate,areallfavourabletothedevelopmentofsnakesandlizards。Thelatterareexceedinglynumerous,andaremostvaluabledestroyersofinsects;thereareseveralvarieties,butthemostcommonisthebrightcopper-colouredspecieswithasmoothskin。Thechameleonalsoexists。 Althoughwehadnevertakenthepresenceofsnakesintoseriousconsideration,thehorribleeffectofthebiteuponthedogsmadeeveryoneonthealertduringthemarchovertherockyandbushycountryfromourcamptoEvdimu。Ourguidescornedabeatentrack,andafterhavingkepttheregularpathalongthesea-coastforamile,hestruckdirectlyupthemountain,whichdescendedinasteepclifftotheshore,againstwhichthewavesdashedwithviolence。Thecountrywasexceedinglywildforsomemilesasweascendedthroughbushofyoungpines,dwarf-cypress,andmastic,occasionallypassingpinesoflargergrowth,whichhad,asusual,beenmutilated。Wemovedpartridgesinseveralplaces,butthesewereoldbirdspackedinconsiderablenumbers: abadsignatthisseason,whentheyshouldhavebeensittinguponeggs。 Atanelevationofabout1000feetabovetheseawecameuponaparkofcaroub-trees,inwhichwasaspringofwater;largeflocksofgoatsandcattle,togetherwithmanymulesandhorses,wereroamingthroughthisverdantdistrict,whichaffordedabundantpasturageintheshapeofwildartichokes,avarietyofsucculentthistles,andmanyplantssuitabletothenativeanimalsintheabsenceofactualgrasses。ThisisadistressingwantthroughoutCyprus;whenthecountryisgreen,theverdureisproducedbycultivatedcropsofcereals,whichquicklychangetoyellowastheyripen;allthenaturalproductionsoftheeartharewhatinEnglandweshouldterm“weeds“——thereisnorealgrass,exceptinsomerarelocalitieswhereaspeciesof“couch-grass“(theBritishfarmer\'senemy)crawlsalongthesurface,beingnourishedbyitsknottyroots,which,penetratingintothedeepsoil,areenabledtoescapetheburningsun。 Uponreachingthesummit,about1200feetabovethesea,welookedovertherichestlandscapethatIhadseeninCyprus。Asuccessionofbroadvalleysandundulatinghillsgraduallyascended,untilinthefardistancetheyterminatedinelevatedplateauxupwardsof2000feetabovethesea。Thewholeofthisdistrict,asfarandnodoubtmuchfartherthantheeyecouldreach,wasrichlywoodedwithcaroub-treesandoccasionalolive-groves,whilethedistantvillagesweremarkedbythepeculiarlight-greenofmulberry-clumpsandotherfruit-trees。Thebottomsofthenumerousvalleysweredarkwithwell-irrigatedcropsofcereals,andcontrastedstronglywiththoseofthehigherground,whichhaddependedsolelyupontheuncertainrainfall。 Therewerebeautifulsitesforcountryresidencesthroughoutthisscene,anditappearedstrangethatnohousewasvisibleexcepttheordinarymud-builtdwellingsinthenativevillages。Therouteoverthiscountrywasabominable,asitwasasuccessionofthesteepestups-and-downsintovalleysmanyhundredfeetindepth,whichnecessitatedascrambleuparockyzigzagforasimilarheightabove,toberepeatedafterwehadcrossedeachshoulderthatformedaspurfromthedistantmountains,thedrainagebeingatrightanglestoourpath。Everyplateauexhibitedthesamelovelyviewofthesea,cliffsofsnow-whitecretaceousrock,greenhills,anddeepvales,throughwhichastreamofwaterhadgivenbirthtoathickgrowthoffoliage。Afteramarchoffourteenmileswehaltedinadeepdellbeneathshadycaroubs,afewyardsfromabrookofclearwaterwhichirrigatedsomeoftherichestcropsIhadseeninCyprus。WhenthecamelsarrivedMerrywasverybad,andhisskinbeneaththehairhadturnedblack;helappedwaterwithdifficulty,ashistongueandmouthwereswollentoagreatsizeandwerealsoblack。AsthedogcouldnoteatIpouredaquantityofolive-oildownhisthroat。 ThelargevillageofEvdimuwasaboutamileaboveus,andwasdistinguishablefromtheheights。Anewandimportantchurchwasinprocessofconstruction,uponwhichsomeItalianworkmenwereemployed,andanairofprosperityinthisneighbourhoodcontrastedfavourablywithmostportionsoftheisland。Thecock-birdsoffrancolinswerecrowinginalldirections,andwhenramblingwithWise,mynowsolitarydog,vainlysearchingforahare,Ifoundseveralpairsofred-leggedpartridges,whichofcourseatthisseasonIrespected。 Themarchonthefollowingdaywasacontinuationofthesamebeautifulcountry,untilweatlengthreachedthetable-topofastupendouscliffperpendiculartothesea,whichwasheditsbase。Thepathwasinmanyplacesonlyafewfeetfromtheedge,andaffordedamagnificentview。 Thetable-landuponwhichwerodewascoveredwithevergreenshrubsandyoungpines,andthesamerichlandscapethatwehadadmiredonthepreviousdayextendedtowardsthemountainsoftheinterior。Theroadhadbeenasroughascouldbeimagined,andwenowdescendedthelaststeepinclinefromtheheights,whichledintotheplainbelow。Thesaltlake,whichaddsanimportantamounttotherevenueofCyprus,laybeneathusupontheright,intheheartofthepeninsulaofAkrotiri; immediatelybelowweretheruinsofancientCurium,buttousinvisible…… WearrivedatthetownofEpiskopi。CaptainSavilethusdescribesit:—— “Apleasantlysituatedvillage,standingontheEpiskopiorLycosriver,andveryabundantlysuppliedwithwater。Thehousesaresurroundedwithfruitfulgardens,andtherearefieldsofgrainandcottoninthevicinity。Theinhabitantshavehoweververysmallholdings,andare,asarule,miserablypoor。InformerdaysEpiskopiwasarichcity,andcontainedintheVenetiantimeslargemanufactories; ofitsancientgreatnessnowremaintheruinsofanaqueduct,immensestorehousesorvaults,andseveralruinedGreekchurches。ThespursfromMountTroodosextendnearlydowntotheshore,andtheroadfollowsthecoast-line,traversingaverybeautifulcountry;thegroundinspringiscoveredwithflowersandaromaticherbs,andtheravinesarefilledwithaluxuriantgrowthofcypresses,wild-olives,andfloweringshrubs。“ TherewasnothingtoinduceadelayinEpiskopi,butanadditionmaybemadetotheabovedescriptioninstatingthattheriverwhichhasfertilisedthespotandmadeitfamousoriginatesintheTroodosrange。 Lateron,duringthesummermonths,IoftenrestedatthefaintlydrippingsourceofitsfirstmountainaffluentnearthetopofTroodos,whichbydegreesacquiresstrengthfromtheOlympusdrainagetoformanimportantstream。 WepassedquicklythroughEpiskopiwithitsfruitfulgardens,narrowstreets,andyellingcurs。PoorWisewasnowalone,andwecouldnolongerexhibitacombinedfrontofthreeBritishlionstothesnappingcursofCyprus,thereforethedogWise-lykeptclosetotheheelsofourguide\'sponyandjustbeforeme,which,withouttheignominyofretreat,securedhispositionfromallassailants。Wepassedbelowtheancientaqueduct,whichconveyedapowerfulvolumeofwatertotheturbine-wheeluponourright;andatlengthemergingfromthetown,weenteredoncemoreupontheplain,andsteeringforalargesquaretowerwhichwehadremarkedwhenatthesummitoftheheights,weshortlyarrivedatthethrivingvillageofKolossi,aboutamileandthree-quartersdistant。 Thislargevillagewasawavingseaofbarley,someofthefinestthatI hadseen,andduetoartificialirrigation。Anancientaqueductofmasonryturnedamillclosetothelargesquaretowerthatwehadpreviouslyobserved。Wehaltedforluncheonbeneathanolive-treeafewyardsdistantfromtheaqueduct,inagardenoffruit-treeswhichwereinthebrightnessofaspringfoliage。 Thesquaretowerofmasonrymusthaveformedaportionofdefensiveworksthathavedisappeared,asthereisnoflankingprotection,butthetowerrisesabovetheplaintoaheightofaboutsixtyfeetlikeahugeblockofstone。ItissaidtohavebeenerectedbytheKnightsTemplars,andisofgreatsolidity;butsuchexperiencedsoldierswouldhardlyhaveconstructedsoimportantaworkwithoutdueregardtothefirstrulesoffortification。 Afterluncheon,thecamelshavingarrived,Iwouldnotallowthemtounload,butdirectedthemstraighttoLimasol。Ofcoursetheirownersdeclaredthedistancetobealongday\'smarch,butasthemapshowedittobesixmiles,Iinsisted。 FromKolossithecountrywasperfectlyopenandcultivated;thepeasantrywereengagedinreapingbarley,whichwascarriedawayupondonkeys\'backsinsteadofbeingconveyedbycarts。Theusualcaroub-trees,althoughplentifulupontherisinggroundinthedistance,werefewandfarbetween,andfromthistoLimasol,whichwasnowinview,thebeautyofthelandscapehaddeparted……Idisliketheapproachtoalargetowninasemi-wildcountry;thecharmingsimplicityandindependenceoftravellingisdestroyed,andtheservantsbecomemoreorlessdemoralisedbyaloveofnewassociationswhichproducesaneglectofduty。Iianiwaswithusinadditiontoourguidethezaphtieh,therefore,asanutterstrangertothelocality,Iorderedthemtoleadustoaconvenientcamping-ground。Asweapproachedthetownthereweretheusualminaretsanddate-palms,andseveralvessels,includingsteamers,werelyingintheroadstead。Wehaltedneartheentranceinaforsakengarden,wherethewallswerebrokendownandtheunwateredorange-trees,althoughinfaintblossom,wereparchedandfaded。Twoverylargeapricot-treespromisedashadeforthetent,butthesakyeeah,orwater-wheel,togetherwithtwopowerfulEnglishlifting-pumpsthatwereconnectedwithalargereservoirandaqueductofmasonry,wereinthelaststageofrustandrottenness。Iwasnotprepossessedwiththeaspectofthespot,asitremindedmestronglyofanEnglishpropertyinchargeoftheCourtofChancery。Thebaggageanimalswiththetentsarrivedwhileourpeoplewereemployedinclearingaspacebeneaththetreesfromtheinnumerablestones,which,asusualthroughoutCyprus,coveredthesurface。Theservantswerebusilyengagedinerectingthetent,whenalong,lankyindividual,witharepulsivecountenance,marchedthroughthelittlecrowdandhaughtilyinquired“whowewere,andwhatbusinesswehadthere?” ThiswasthefirstinstanceofincivilitythatIhadmetwithinourjourneythroughtheisland。ThemanwasaTurk,andwasnottheproprietor,butonlytheagentforthiswretchedly-neglectedproperty。 Theunfortunateownerwassleepingwithhisfathers,orhewould,Ifeelsure,havewelcomeduswithtrueTurkishpolitenessandhospitalitybuthavingdepartedthislife,somelegaldifficultieshadoccasionedtrouble,andtheestatewasinthehandsoftheuncivilagent,who,ofcourse,beingnobody,assumedtheairsofsomebody,andendeavouredbyrudenesstoexhibithisimportance。Weweretravel-stainedanddustyasmillers,thereforeourpersonalappearancehadnotimpressedhimfavourably;hewasinathread-barelongblackclothhabitthatcombinedthecloak,dressing-gown,andfrock-coatinamannerinexplicable,andknownonlytoTurks。Thisgarmentwastrimmedinthefrontedgeswithrathermangy-lookingfox-skin:loosepegtoptrousersofgreasy-lookingcloth,dirtyandthreadbare,completedthecostumeofthegreatcuriosityofCyprus,“arudeperson。“ IwasnotatthetimeawarethatheunderstoodArabic,andhappilyI addressedAmarninthatlanguage,expressingmysurprisethatinthiscountry,wherewehadtravelledsowidelyandfoundcivilityuponallsides,weshouldbesubjectedtosuchrudeness。Myservants,whoweremoreannoyedthanmyself,spokeratherloudly,andassuredhimthatifhewasaTurk,theirmasterwasapashaofhisSultan,andwewouldatoncequithismiserableneglectedgroundandmentionhisinhospitalitytothechiefcommissioner。Bythistimetherearbaggageanimalshadappeared,andtheimposingarrayofluggageandpeopleseemedtoimpresshimwiththefactthatwewereneithergipsiesnorvagabonds。I explainedtohimthatweshouldnothavepresumedtointrudewithinawalledgarden,butastheoldwallshaddisappearedandtheplacewasinanopenandruinouscondition,wehadtrespassedinnocently。Hedisappearedwithanapology,butuponthefirstopportunityafterwehadexaminedtheneighbourhoodofLimasolwechangedourcamptoagoodpositionontheeasternoutskirtsofthetown。Thissidewasrichincaroub-trees,andhadgrassexisteditwouldhaveformedapark:thegroundslopedfromthemountains,aboutsixmilesdistant,graduallytothesea,thesurfacewasrichlywoodedbycaroubsthroughout,andthesoilwascultivatedwithbarley,whichwasalreadyinthehandsofreapers。Thereweresixcaroub-treesinalinewhichconnectedtheirshade,andwesoonclearedthecultivated,butwithered,surfaceofthelargeclodsofearth,which,havingbeenturnedupbytheplough,hadbakedbeneaththesunintothehardnessofbricks;thesewerearrangedinasquaretomarkthelimitsofthecamp,whiletheinteriorareawaspoundedtoproduceanevenfloor;fromthispositionwelookeduponthesea,aboutaquarterofamiledistant,anduponthetownofLimasoluponourright。 NotowninCyprusexhibitedtheresultsofaBritishoccupationtothesameextentasLimasol。Thechiefcommissioner,ColonelWarren,R。A。,wasanofficerofgreatenergyandability,andhehadgrappledvigorouslywitheverydifficultyandcleansedtheAugeanstablesthoroughly。Thetownisaboutamileandahalfinlength,andfacestheseainapositionsomewhatsimilartothatofLarnaca。Thequayiswashedbythewaves,whichinstormyweatherdashagainstthehouses,atwhichtimesitisimpossibletolandfromboats,andcrewsmustremainonboardtheirvesselssafelyanchoredintheroadstead。AlthoughnotsoextensiveasLarnaca,Limasolismorecompact,andthehousesandgardensaresuperior。Owingtotheactiveauthorityofthechiefcommissioner,thestreetswerescrupulouslyclean,andalltherefuseofthetownwasconveyedtoasafedistance。Apublicmarkethadbeenrecentlyarranged,coveredwithcorrugatedgalvanisediron,inwhichthedepartmentsformeat,vegetables,&c。,werekeptseparate,andtheappearanceandorganisationresembledamarket-placeinEngland。Thevariousopenplaceswithinthetown,insteadofbeingreceptaclesforfilth,asisusualthroughouttheEast,hadbeencarefullyplantedwithyoungtrees,mostofwhichwereexhibitingtheirfirstspringshootsandleaves。Thequaywhichfacedthesea,althoughexposedtotheunderminingactionofthewaves,hadbeenrepairedandwasinfaircondition;fromthisatolerablepierprojected,uponwhichpilesofgoodswerebeingdisembarkedfromthesteamerthathadjustarrivedfromLarnaca。Twosmalltugsranuponalternatedays,thusaffordingfacilitiesforpassengersandgoodsbetweenLimasolandLarnaca,whichwasagreatconveniencerecentlyestablishedtoavoidthedifficultyoftheroadlesslandjourney。H。M。S。Torchwasintheroadstead,togetherwithabouttwentyvesselsofvariousflagsandtonnage。SomeofthesewereloadingwineforTrieste,anditwasinterestingtowatchthesystemadoptedtosavethedifficultyofembarkingtheheavycasksinlighters,intheabsenceofcranesorwinches。Thebarrelswhenfullwereslightlyinferiorinweighttotheirdisplacementofsea-water; theyaccordinglyfloatedalmostlevelwiththesurface,andwereformedintoachainoftwocasksabreastandaboutfiftyyardsinlength。Thusarranged,theyweretowedbyboatsuntilalongsidethevessel,whentheywereeasilyhoisteduponboard。Asboatscouldnotlieagainsttheperpendicularwallofthequayexceptduringaperfectcalm,therewasconsiderabletroubleincarryingonthecommerceoftheportaccordingtomodernrequirements;buttheinventionsofnecessityhadsimplifiedmanydifficultiesattheexpenseofincreasedmanuallabour。Boatslayafewyardsofftheshore,andwereloadedbymenwhowalkedshoulder- deepwiththepackagesupontheirheads。Isawlightersdischargingplanksandbaulksoftimber,byshootingthemintotheseawithsufficientforcetofollowthedirectiongiventowardstheshore,whilethereceiversstoodinthewatertocapturethemuponarrival。 Theshopsandstoresalongthequay-facecloselyresemblethoseofLarnaca,buttherewasmoreactivityamongthepeople。Thestreetsofthebazaarwerethrongedwithmulesanddonkeysbringingtheproduceoftheinteriortotheshippingcentre,andthecrushofanimalshadbeencarefullymodifiedbythearrangementsinstitutedbyColonelWarren,whohadestablishedalargewalledcourt,orstable-yard,intowhichallemptymulesandassesweredriven,insteadofbeingallowedtoblockthethoroughfare;eachbeastpaidsometrifleforthisaccommodation,whichaddedtothefundformunicipalimprovements。 Thepublicofficeswereveryinferior,thatofthechiefcommissionerhimselfbeingasmallwhite-washedroom,whichexhibitedanutterdisregardofpersonalcomfortintheinterestsofgovernmenteconomy。 Thereisacuriousoldfortwithinthetownwhichhasbeenalteredandaddedtountilithasbecomeanabsurdity;thiswouldbeutterlyuselessasadefence,andtheTurkishgunshavingbeenremoved,itisnowconvertedintoaprison;beneaththegroundtherearedungeonswhicharenolongerused。 TheroadsteadofLimasolisformedbytheprojectionoftheAkrotiripeninsula,whichaffordsprotectionfromthewestandsouth-west,butitisdirectlyexposedfromtheeasttothesouth。Theanchorageissafe,withgoodholding-groundintenfathoms。ThepeculiarshapedpeninsulaofAkrotiriisaboutsevenmileswide,andthelakeinitscentre,whenfull,hasawidthofaboutfourmiles;butduringtheexhaustiveheatofsummeritevaporatestothedimensionsofamerepool,andleavesitsdesertedbedencrustedwithadepositofsalt。Thislakehasnoconnectionwiththesea,anditsmaximumdepthisunderthreefeet;thesaltisformeduponthesameprincipleasthatoftheLakeofLarnaca,andcertainlynotbythepercolationofsea-waterthroughthesand,astheLimasollakeisconsiderablyabovethesea-level。ThereisalighthouseatCapeGatta,whichcanbeseenatadistanceoffifteenmiles,asfromitselevatedpositionthelampis190feetabovethesea。 FromthispointtoLimasolthebeachislowandsandy,andhasalwaysbeenacceptedasthemostfavourablepointforadisembarkationoftroops。Withhistoricalfactsbeforeusthereissmallexcusefortheblundercommittedinlandingourarmyofoccupation,duringtheextremeheatofJuly,atLarnacainsteadofLimasol。Attheformerportthereisnotatreetothrowashade,andthemiserableaspectofthesurroundingcountrymusthavehadamostdepressingeffectuponthenervoussystemofofficersandmen,whileatLimasolthecountryisagreeableandtheshadycaroubsexistalmosttothesea-shore,innumbersthatwouldhaveshelteredanarmyofthreetimestheforcerepresented。IcannotconceiveofmoredeliberatecrueltyinflicteduponallgradesthananunnecessaryexposuretotheburningsummersunofCyprusinbell-tents,whenshadytreesexistedinsoconvenientalocalityasLimasol。IftherootoftheoffencecouldbetraceditwouldprobablybediscoveredthattheadvicehadbeengivenbysomepersonsinterestedinthepossessionofpropertyatLarnaca,whererentsofhousesrosefromniltoafabulousamountuponthedisembarkationofthetroops。AltogetherthismilitaryenterpriseofoccupationwaseffectedwiththeusualBritishconfusionandlackofarrangement。 Thecommissariatofcoursebrokedown,althoughspecialpainshadbeentakentosupplythetroopswithluxuriesthattoasimplemindareinconceivable;thusCOPPERWARMING-PANSingreatnumbersweresentout! Asthethermometerwasabove100degreesFahr。,thesefieryfurnaceswerehardlyappreciated。Itisareflectionuponthewantofresourceexhibitedbytheauthoritiesthatthesepeculiarutensilswerenotsentoutasregimentalstew-pans,astherewasadearthofcooking-pots,andthewarming-pansmighthaveaddedmateriallytothecomfortsoftheinsides,insteadoftheoutsidesofthemen,byreducingthegutta-percha-liketextureofCyprianbullocksintoasavourystew。 Anothercomfortthoughtfullysuppliedbysomemorethanusuallyinsaneauthority,whonodoubthadpassedaseverecompetitiveexamination,wasexhibitedincountlesscoal-boxesofcast-iron!Thesecuriousdeviceswereaboutthreefeetsixincheslongbytwofeetandahalfdeep,andthesameinwidth。Tomyideastheywereonlysuitableforgiganticfoot-pansorhip-baths,orasanaquariumforayoungseal;buttheirrealobjectwastocontaincoalforthesupplyofthevarioustents! Whatistobecomeofourcountry,exclaimstheBritishtaxpayer,ifthisfrightfulwasteistocontinue?Whattravellerorexplorerevercarriedwithhimacopperwarming-panandagiganticcoal-box,weighingnearlytwohundredpounds?Andtheseuselessabominationsaretohampertheoperationsofourtroops,andtowearoutoursailorsinthelabourofthedisembarkmentofsuchdisgracefullumber!ShouldweunhappilyinsomefuturepoliticalannexationsendamilitaryforcetoSpitzbergen,weshallprobablyomitthewarming-pansandfuel,butsupplyashiploadofrefrigeratorsand“FamilyIceMachines。“ Anumberofthesecast-ironcoal-boxeshadbeenconvertedintocisternsbySirGarnetWolseley,whichsurroundedthewoodenGovernmentHouseatLefkosia,andwerekeptfullofwaterincaseoffire。Sopracticalageneralwouldhavebeenthefirsttocondemnthepalpableabsurdityofcoal-boxes,evenhadcoalsbeenrequired;surelytheycouldhavebeenlaiduponthebaregroundbythetentside,insteadofcausingtheinconvenience,labour,andridiculeofimportingsuchoutrageousnonsense。 WhenthefamousmilitaryinvasionsofCyprustookplaceinhistoricaltimestherewerecertainlyneitherwarming-pansnorcoal-boxes,eitherwithRichardCoeurdeLionofEnglandin1191,orwiththeTurksunderLalaMustafain1570。 BoththeseexperiencedwarriorsselectedLimasolforthepointofdisembarkation,andlandedtheirtroopsandhorsesuponthesandybeachinAkrotiriBay。RichardI。wasonhiswaytothethirdcrusade;buthisfleethavingbeendispersedbyastorm,severalvesselshadbeendrivenonthesouthcoastofCyprus,where,insteadofreceivingthehospitalityusuallyexhibitedtoshipwreckedmariners,hispeoplewererobbedandthrownintoprisonatLimasolbytheking,IsaacComnenus。 OneoftheprincipalvesselsofthefleetwhichconveyedBerengaria,daughteroftheKingofNavarre,whowasthebetrothedofRichardandwasaccompaniedbyhissistertheQueenDowagerofSicily,tookshelterinAkrotiriBayandanchored。ItappearsthatthewilyIsaacComnenusendeavouredtopersuadetheladiestoland,inthehopeofeffectingtheircapture,andprobablyextortingaheavyransom;butsuspicionbeingaroused,theshipsetsailandwasshortlymetbyRichard\'sownvessel。 UponhearingthathisshipwreckedcrewshadbeendetainedandimprisonedRichardimmediatelysteeredforLimasol,and,withhiswell-knownimpetuosityofcharacter,lostnotimeindisembarkinghistroops,andshortlybroughttheGreekarmytoactionunderIsaacComnenusandutterlydefeatedthem。TheLatininhabitantsofLimasolhadalreadythrownopentheirgates,andRichard,afterhisvictory,returnedladenwithspoils,includingtheimperialstandard,whichwaseventuallyhunginSt。Edmund\'sChapel,Suffolk。 ThisfirstbattletookplaceatKolossi,neartoLimasol。AftertheflushofvictoryanadditionalwarlikeimpulsewasgiventohisforcesbythearrivalofthechivalrousGuydeLusignan,ex-kingofJerusalem,accompaniedbythePrincesofAntiochandTripoli。ThemarriageofRichardwithBerengariatookplaceatLimasol;shewastherecrownedQueenofEnglandbytheBishopsofYorkandEvreux。Richard,whodidnotprolonghishoneymoonwhenanopportunityoffightingwasathand,immediatelycollectedhisforces,and,togetherwithGuydeLusignan,marchedfortheinterior,whereIsaacComnenushadre-organisedhisarmy。GuydeLusignanwithadivisionofthetroopsmarcheduponFamagousta,whichsurrenderedwithoutresistance,whileRichardattackedtheGreekarmyunderIsaacComnenusintheplainofMessaria。Owingtothedisparityofforcethebattlewasforsometimedoubtful,andatlengththetwoleadersengagedinpersonalencounter,resultinginthecaptureofIsaacComnenusandthetotaldiscomfitureofhisarmy。ThecityofLefkosiaatoncethrewopenitsgatestothevictoriousRichard。 ThenextdisembarkationoftroopsatLimasol,on1stJuly,1570,undertheTurkishgeneralLalaMustafa,wasuponamuchlargerscale,astheexpeditioncomprised70,000infantry,30,000cavalry,and200cannon。 WiththisforceLefkosiawasassaulted,andtakenafterafewweeks\' siege;andtheinhabitantsweresubjectedtoinconceivableatrocities,20,000ofbothsexesbeingmercilesslybutcheredduringthesackwhichfollowedthecaptureofthetown。TheTurkishforcesthenmarcheduponthegreatstrongholdofCyprus,Famagousta。Thispowerfulfortresswasinvestedbylandandsea,andalthoughdefendedbyonly7000Venetiantroops,undertheirgallantcommandant,GeneralBragadino,itsustainedavigoroussiegeformorethantenmonths,untiltheheroicgarrisonwasreducedbysicknessandstarvation。DuringthistimeanextraordinaryapathywasexhibitedbyVenice,whichshouldatallhazardshavedetermineduponthereliefofthisimportantposition。On23rdJanuary,1571,theonlyeffectiveexpeditionenteredFamagoustawith1600men,provisionsandammunition,withasquadroncommandedbytheVenetianMarcAntoniusQuirini;butonthe1stAugustfollowing,theprovisionsandammunitionhavingbeencompletelyexpended,itbecameabsolutelynecessarytonegotiatethetermsofcapitulation。AdetaileddescriptionofthisinterestingsiegeisgivenintheworkofRichardKnolles,TheGeneralHistoryoftheTurks,publishedinLondonin1638。 Theconditionsofsurrenderstipulatedthat“Thegarrisonshouldmarchoutwithfivegunsandthehorsesofthecommanders,andshouldbeconveyedtoCandiaintheshipsandattheexpenseoftheTurks;thattheinhabitantsshouldbefreetoquitthetownandtaketheirproperty,andthatthosewhopreferredtoremainshouldbeunmolestedbothasregardstheirpersonsandtheirgoods。“* (*CaptainSavile\'sCyprus,p。22。) GeneraldiCesnolawrites,page39:—— “TheseconditionswereeagerlyacceptedbythetreacherousMustafa;hostageswereexchanged; Turkishvessels,asstipulated,enteredtheportofFamagousta,andtookonboardallthosewhowishedtoleavetheisland;nothingremainedbuttheformalityofdeliveringthekeysofthecitytothevictor。 “On5thAugustGeneralBragadino,accompaniedbyhislieutenantsBaglioni,Martinengo,andQuirini,wenttotheTurkishcamp,andwaspolitelyreceivedbyMustafa。Afterthedeliveryofthekeys,andwhenGeneralBragadinohadrisentotakeleave,thevileTurkaskedhimforspecialhostagesforthesafereturnfromCandiaoftheTurkishvesselswhichweretoconveyhimandhismenthither;Bragadinorefusedthis,asnothavingbeenstipulatedintheacceptedconditionsofhissurrender。ThenMustafaaccusedhimofbadfaith,andofhavingputtodeathfiftyTurkishpilgrimsafterhehadsurrendered,whichwasindignantlydeniedbyBragadino。Thepasha,becomingenraged,orderedthefourVenetianstobeputtodeath,andinafewminutesGeneralsBaglioni,Martinengo,andQuiriniwereexecutedinthepresenceofBragadino,forwhomamoreterribledeathwasreserved。 Theexecutionercutoffhisnoseandears;threetimeshewasmadetolayhisheadupontheblock,asiftobebeheaded,then,heavilychained,wasthrownintoadarkdungeon,andleftforninedaysinthatmiserablecondition。 “Onthetenthday,byorderofMustafa,Bragadinowasbroughtoutofprisonandmadetocarryearthfortherepairofthefortificationsduringseveralhours,afterwhich,moredeadthanalive,theheroicsoldierwastiedtoastake,and,inthepresenceoftheferociousMustafa,wasflayedalive。Hisskin,stuffedwithhay,wassentwiththeheadsoftheotherthreeVenetiansaspresentstotheSultan。“ ThetwomostimportantconquestsofCyprushavethuscommencedfromtheportofLimasol,whichisdestinedtobecomeofprimaryimportanceasthegreatcommercialrepresentativetownofthisnowpoorisland。 WeremainedsixteendaysatLimasol,duringwhichtimewehadthepleasureofthesocietyofColonelandMrs。Warrenandtheiryoungfamily,whichwethoroughlyappreciatedaftertheexilefromcivilisedlifeandladiessincewehadquittedKyreniaandLefkosia。TheleadingofficialsandsomeGreekmerchantsofthetownweregoodenoughtocallfrequently,andkindlyaffordedmuchinformation;atthesametimetheydidnotconcealtheirdisappointmentatthetermsoftheoccupation,which,bydrainingtheislandofitsrevenue,completelyparalysedthegoodintentionsoftheEnglishgovernment;thebestresolutionsbeingvaluelessunlesssupportedbythenecessarycapital。 AlthoughIreceivedeverypolitenessfromtheinhabitants,whoappearedtothinkIhadsomeofficialmission,itwasnotdifficulttotraceageneraltoneofcomplaintanddissatisfaction,whichwasperfectlynaturalundertheexistingregime。AlthoughnothingcouldexceedthepainstakenbySirGarnetWolseleyandallhisofficialstointroducereformsforthegeneralwelfareofthepeople,thetaskwassimplyimpossiblewherevariousinterestswereconflicting,andnoHYBRID governmentcouldatoncedestroyexistingabusesandatthesametimeestablishlawssuitabletoallclasses。Thisgeneralreformrequiredanindependentadministration,untrammelledbymongrelrelationswiththeTurk,andequallyfreefromthevexatiouslabyrinthsofEnglishjurisprudence。Idonotwishtocataloguethelonglistofgrievanceswhichhavebeenentrustedtomyunwillingears,buttherearesomewhicharesoutterlydestructivetotheinterestsofthecountryandthegovernment,thatIhavenohesitationindescribingthem。 ThegreattradeofLimasoliswine,asthedistrictexhibitstheindustryfirstencouragedbytheVenetians;this,asthegreatmoney-producingcultivation,opposedtoMussulmanprejudices,hasbeenburdenedwithextortionatetaxationandrestrictions,whichhavenotyetbeenrelievedbytheBritishadministration。 CHAPTERX。 THEWINEDISTRICTOFLIMASOL。 InthefifteenthcenturytheCyprianvineswereselectedforthenowcelebratedvineyardsofMadeira;nothingcanbetterexemplifythestandardofindustryandconsequentprosperitythanthevine,whenweregardtheidenticalplantinthehandsofthePortugueseandinitsoriginalhomeinCyprusundertheTurkishadministration。ThefirsthistoricalnoticeofthevineoccurswhenNoah,strandeduponMountArarat,tookadvantage,uponthefirstsubsidenceofthewaters,toplantavineyard;and,accordingtothecurtbiblicaldescription,itgrew,produced,andthewineintoxicatedtheproprietor,allwithinafewdays。Itmaynothaveoccurredtothewinetradethatthisbiblicalfactprovesthattheconsumptionofwinehadbeenamongthefirstassumednecessitiesofthehumanrace;ifNoah\'sfirstimpulseuponlandingsuggestedthecultivationofthevine,hewasrestoringtotheworldaplantthathadbeenconsideredsoabsolutelyimportantthathemusthaveprovidedhimselfwitheitherbudsorcuttingsingreatquantitieswhenheselectedhisanimalsfortheArkBEFOREtheDeluge。 Ifthisistrue,theuseofwinemusthavebeenpre-historical,anditsabusehistorical;thetwopurposeshavingcontinuedtothepresentday。 Itmaythereforebeacknowledgedthatnocustomhasbeensouniversalandcontinuousasthedrinkingofwinefromtheearliestperiodofhumanexistence。Thevineisamysteriousplant;itissopeculiarlysensitivethat,likeamusicalinstrumentwhichproducesharmonyordiscordatthehandsofdifferentperformers,theproduceofthesamevarietyisaffectedbythesoiluponwhichtheplantsaregrown。Thustenthousandyoungvinesmaybeplantedupononemountain,allofthesamestock;butvariousqualitiesofwinewillbeproduced,eachwithaspecialpeculiarityofflavour,accordingtothepeculiaritiesofsoil。Thesameestate,plantedwiththesamevines,mayproducehighclasswinesandothersthatwouldhardlycommandamarket,ifthesoilvariesaccordingtothedegreesofcertainlocalities。ItwouldnowbeimpossibletoproduceMadeirawineinCyprus,althoughtheplantsmightbeimportedandcultivatedwiththegreatestattention。WhenthevineswereshippedfromCyprusandplantedinMadeiraduringtheruleoftheVenetians,itmustnotbesupposedthatthosevineshadeverproducedwineofthewell-knownMadeiraflavourandquality;thatflavourwastheresultofsomepeculiarityinthesoilofthenewcountrytowhichthevineshadbeentransplanted,andtherecanbelittledoubtthattherichandextremelylusciousvarietyknowninCyprusas“Commanderia“wastheparentvineoftheMadeiravineyards。 ItiswellknownthatthecostlyexperimentsofacenturyattheCapeofGoodHopehaveverifiedthefactthatthevineistheslaveofcertainconditionsofsoil,whichimparttothisextremelydelicateandsensitiveplantaspecialflavourthatisincorporatedwiththewine,andcanneverbeeradicated。ThevinesoftheCape,althoughofinfinitevariety,producewineswithafamilytaintwhichisaflavourabsorbedfromthesoil。AnypersonwhoknowsConstantia,thelusciouswineoftheCapeofGoodHope,willatoncedetectthesoupconofthatflavourineveryqualityofwineproducedinthecolony。Itmaythereforebeacceptedthattheflavourofwinesdependsuponthesoil;thusitwouldbeimpossibleforavine-growertosucceedsimplybyplantingwell- knownsuperiorvarietiesofvines,unlesshehashadpracticalexperienceofthelocalitytobeconvertedintovineyards。 ThisfactisthoroughlyexhibitedinCyprus,wherethepeculiaritiesofsoilsareexceedinglyremarkable,andcannotfailtoattractattention,eachofthesequalitiesofearthproducingaspecialwine。 Ifaplanterestablishesavineyardhewillnaturallyselectacertainvarietyofvine,andacorrespondingsituationthatwillensureamarketablequantityofwine;thusinCyprusacomparativelysmallareaoftheislandisdevotedtothecultivationofthegrape,whichiscomprisedchieflywithinthedistrictofLimasol。NowineismadeintheCarpasdistrict,nortothenorthoftheCarpasianrangeofjurassiclimestone;therearenovineyardsofimportanceinthewesterndistrict; oryetintheplainofMessaria,exceptuponthewesternborder,intheneighbourhoodofDali,towardstheMakhaerasmountain。 AlthoughtherearemanyvarietiesofCypruswines,thereisoneprevailingrule:thewhitecommanderia,aluscioushigh-flavouredwine,isgrownuponthereddishchocolate-colouredsoilofmetamorphousrocks。 Thedarkred,orblackastringentwines,areproduceduponthewhitemarlsandcretaceouslimestone。Thequantityproducedislarge,andthedarkwinescanbepurchasedretailinthevillagesforonepennythequartbottle!——andinmyopinionareverydearatthemoney。 AccordingtotheofficialreturnskindlysuppliedtomebyMr。Robson,thechiefofcustoms,thefollowinglistrepresentsthedeclaredduty-paidproductionfrom1877to1879。 Spirits——Commanderia——BlackWines—— Okes2。75lbs。Okes2。75lbs。Okes2。75lbs。 1877-1878……155,451117,0002,500,000 1878-1879……430,000300,0006,000,000 Spiritisvaluedatabout2。5PiastrestheOkeCommanderia““2“““ BlackWines““1。25“““ Therateofexchange:9Piastresto1shilling=180perpoundsterling。 Itwillbeobservedthatanimmensedifferenceisrepresentedintheyieldofthetwoyears。Thisistobeaccountedforbythesuperabundanceofrainsin1878-1879,whichcausedagreatquantity,butbadquality,ofjuice,andthewineofthisvintageissoinferiorthatalargeproportionisturningtovinegar,andcanbeusedfornootherpurpose。 Thehabitofcalculatingbylowquantities,as“okes,“astheFrenchreckonin“francs,“isatfirstsightperplexingtotheEnglishmind,andconveysanerroneousimpressionoftheactualresults。IfthepopulationofCyprusisabout200,000,themaximumwine-cropof6,000,000okeswouldonlyyield30okes,or60ordinarywine-bottles,toeachpersonduringtheyear。Thelocalconsumptionisexceedinglysmall,whichcanonlybeaccountedforbythegeneralpovertyofthepopulation。 TheexportsaredirectedprincipallytothevariousportsoftheLevant,Constantinople,Smyrna,Alexandria,inadditiontoTrieste,andpartsofSouthernItaly。SomeofthedarkwinesareshippedtoMarseilles,forthewell-knownestablishmentatCette,wheretheyareusedformixingwithotherwines。ItshouldatoncebeunderstoodthatnoqualityofCypruswinesissuitabletotheEnglishmarket,astheyaregenerallyshunnedevenbytheEnglishresidingintheisland,wheretheirextremecheapnessmighttemptpeopleintothebadtasteofconsumingthem。Atthesametime,thesewinesarewellappreciatedbythenativepopulation,especiallythedarkastringentqualities。 ThedifficultyofintroducinganewwineiswellknowntoEnglishwine-merchants,andthemysteriesofthetradewouldsomewhatastonishtheinnocentwould-beconnoisseur。Therecanbenodoubtthatthepalatemustbeeducatedtoenjoyfinedrywines,preciselyastheearmustbeinstructedbeforeitcanappreciateclassicalmusic。Thereisaharmonyinthesensesofhearing,smell,andtastewhichistheresultofcivilisedlife;thismayberightorwrongphysically,asthenervesbecomemoredelicateandsensitive,whichmayaffectthebrainmoreorlessdirectly。Therecanbenodoubtthatitaffectsthestomach。 Certaincivilisedpersonsprefergameinastateapproachingtodecomposition;Ihaveseensavageswhoenjoyfleshwhenactuallyputrid,andaboveallhorrors,fishwhenstinking!Suchfoodwoulddisgustthecivilisedmanwhoprefershisgame“high,“andwouldperhapskillothercivilisedpeoplewhosepalatesandstomachshavebeeneducatedtoavoidimpurities。Inthesamemannerthepalatemustbeeducatedforwinesorotherdrinks。IgaveanoldpriestabottleofBass\'spaleIndiaale;hecouldnotdrinkhalfaglassfulbutrejecteditaspicro(bitter);thesameoldmanenjoyedhispenny-a-bottleblackCypruswine,reekingoftarandhalf-rottengoat-skins,inwhichithadbeenbroughttomarket——astuffthatIcouldnothaveswallowed!ItmustthereforebeborneinmindwhenjudgingofCyprianwines,that“Englishtastedoesnotgoverntheworld。“AlthoughtheBritishmarketwouldbeclosedtothecoarseandill-madewinesofCyprus,thereareothermarketswhichacceptthemgladly,andwouldabsorbthemtoahighdegree,weretheyimprovedbysuperiorcultivationandmanufacture。 AtthesametimethattheproduceofCyprusisnowaunsuitabletotheEnglishmarket,thereisnoreasonwhyitshouldbeexcludedatafuturetime,whenscientificcultureshallhaveenhancedthequality。ItshouldberememberedthatthepoorerclassesofGreatBritainwouldbeimmenselybenefitedbyabeveragethatshouldbewithintheirreachinprice,andatthesametimebesufficientlyinvigoratingwithoutthedirectintoxicatingpropertiesofspiritsorthesleepy,heavy,andthirst-increasingqualitiesofbeer。IfCyprusisatsomefuturetimetobecomeaBritishcolony,thewinetradewillbetheprincipalsourceofindustry,andshouldbedevelopedbythegovernmentwitheverypossibleencouragementtotheproprietorsofvineyards。Animprovedqualityofwinewillnotnecessitateanadditionalprice,but,onthecontrary,thewine-growingresourcesoftheislandaresoirrepressiblethattheyhavewithstoodtheoppressionofthepastandpresent,andwhenrelievedofthisincubus,notonlyshouldthequalityimprove,butthepriceshouldbereduced。Inthiscase,shouldtheCyprianproducebefavouredbyanominalimportdutyinEngland,thewinewillbewithinthereachofthepoorerclasses,andmayamelioratethatcryingevilofourcountry,“intoxication,“byweaningthespirit-drinkertoamorewholesomedrink。 ItmustneverbesupposedbythemostsanguinethatCyprianwineswillbefashionableamongtheupperclassesinEngland。IdonotthinktheywilleversurpassMarsalaormanyoftheCapewines。Englishpeople,asarule,objecttocheapwines,oratleasttheyarereservedconcerningtheprice,shouldcheapwinebeupontheirtable。Itisadangerousthingtomentionthecostofanywine,eventoyournearestfriend; althoughhemighthaveenjoyeditwhenhethoughtitmusthavecostyou72shillingsthedozen,hewilldetectsomeunpleasantpeculiaritywhenyoumayfoolishlyhaveconfidedtohimthatitonlycostyou36 shillings,or,worsestill,24shillings。Hewillpossiblysuggesttoyouonthefollowingmorningthat“somethingdisagreedwithhimduringthenight,buthedoesNOTthinkitwasthe24shillingwine。“HereisthefaultofHALF-EDUCATEDpalates;theyexpecttoomuch,andareguidedbyfancies。Thesamepersonmightbebeguiledintothebeliefthatthe24shillingwinewasverysuperiorifhehadbeendeceivedbyanassurancethatitcost72shillings。Therearereallyveryfewamateurswhocouldvalueunknownwinesbythetestoftheirownpalates;butthechillyclimateofEnglandisadversetolightwines,andnecessitatesafullbody,withconsiderablestrength。 Thesherriesarealwaysfortifiedbyanadditionofbetween30to40percent。ofalcoholbeforetheyareshippedtoEngland,withoutwhichtheywouldbeunsaleable;astoourtaste,theywouldbeemptyandvapid。WemustthereforemakeaconsiderableallowancewhenjudgingofCypruswinesintheirpresentextremelyrudeanduncultivatedposition。 Nothingisadded,andthefollowingconcisedescriptionwillaccountfortheirdisagreeablepeculiarities。 TherearenoroadsinCyprusinthemountainouswine-producingdistricts,thereforeallagriculturalproductsmustbeconveyeduponthebacksofmulesupanddownthesteepestandmostdangerousrockytracks,apparentlymorefittedforgoatsthanotheranimals。Amulewilltravelinthisroughcountrywithaloadof250lbs。Thisseriousdifficultyoftransportwillaccountfortherudeandancientmethodofconveyingwineingoat-skins。“Nomanwillputnewwineintooldbottles,“referredtothissystemofemployingskinsinsteadofcasks,orotherreceptaclesthatcouldbecleanedandrenderedtasteless。Thegoat-skinwouldquicklyrot,unlessitwaspreparedbyaspeciesoftar;thusnotonlyisthenaturallyunpleasantflavouroftheskinimpartedtothewine,butthemixtureoftarrendersitcompletelyabominabletoanypalatethathasnotbeeneducatedtoreceiveit。LetanypersonconceivetheresultofpouringtenortwelvegallonsofChateauLafitteintoanoldanddirtygoat-skinthoroughlyimpregnatedwithtar,andcarryingthisburdenupononesideofamule,balancedbyasimilarskinontheothersidefilledwiththechoicestJohannisberger。Thisload,worthatleast70or80poundsatstarting,wouldtravelfortwodaysexposedtoabroilingsun,andwouldlieforseveraldaysbeforeitwouldbeturnedintothevatofthemerchantatLimasol。Bythattime,accordingtocivilisedtaste,itwouldbeperfectlyvaluelessandundrinkable;ifthebestwinesintheworldcanbethusdestroyedbyasavagemeansoftransport,whatmusttheeffectbeuponsuchinferiorqualitiesasthecrudeproduceofCyprus?Commonsensewillsuggestthatthefirststeptowardsimprovementwillbethecompletionofroadsthroughoutthewinedistricts,thatwillenablethetwo-wheelednativecartstoconveythewineinbarrelsdirectfromthegrowerstothemerchants\'storesatLimasol。 Wewillnowcommenceatthebeginning,“thecultivationofthevine,“ andtraceitsprogressuntilthewineisreadyfortheconsumer。