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。