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jars； loss by accidents of seasons； when the wine turns sour； neither is
any margin allowed for extraneous casualties。
At first sight the position appears impossible； as a stranger would ask
the pertinent question； 〃Why； if vineyards do not pay； does the owner
continue the occupation？ Why does he not substitute some other form of
cultivation？〃 The answer is simple。 Wherever the conditions of the
locality permitted； they have already done so； but vineyards are
cultivated where no other crops could grow； upon the sides of inclines
so steep that it is even difficult to stand； and these positions；
although peculiarly adapted for the cultivation of the vine by reason of
the soil； would be absolutely worthless for other uses。 The vine
requires little water after the young grapes have formed； and the
burning sun…light which is favourable for their development would
destroy all cereals upon those steep inclinations； where a casual
shower； instead of soaking into the earth and nourishing the crops；
rushes quickly over the surface and drains superficially into the deep
vale below。 The land of the vineyards is WINE land； and adapted
specially by the quality of the soil and the peculiarity of climate for
the production of grapes。 In addition to the impossibility of converting
this land to other purposes of cultivation would be the loss to the
proprietor of all his plant； buildings； jars； &c。； &c。； which would
become valueless。
This is； as well as I can describe the grievances； the real position of
the vine…grower。 Although since the British occupation he has escaped
the extra extortion of the tax…farmer； he is still the slave of petty
vexations and delays； which strangle him in red…tape and render his
avocation a misery； without profit； leaving only a bare subsistence。
What is to be done？
The first necessary change is a system of roads； only sufficiently wide
to admit of the native two…wheeled carts； with sidings every half mile
to enable them to pass when meeting。 Our usual English mistake has been
made； in the only two metalled highways that the engineers have
constructed in Cyprus； 〃that everything must be English；〃 thus we have
two costly roads of great width from Larnaca to Lefkosia； and from
Limasol to Platraes； which are entirely unsuitable to the requirements
of the country； and as there are no branch roads in communication； the
people are hardly benefited； as they cannot reach the main artery with
wheeled conveyances。 The military road from Limasol might as well be a
railway without any branch traffic； as it is entirely independent of
other roads： thus； should carts be established to convey the wine of the
district to Limasol； they must be loaded by mules that will bring the
produce from the roadless vineyards in the usual manner by goat…skins；
and the wine will be tainted as before。 A network of cheap useful
cart…tracks can be easily made throughout the wine districts； and they
MUST be made before any improvement in the quality of the wines can take
place。 The goat…skins and the tarred jars must be thrown aside before
any change can be expected： these cannot become obsolete until the
necessary roads for the conveyance of casks shall be completed。
If we regard the present position of the vine…grower； we must advise
him thus：〃The first necessity is to improve your QUALITY； and thus
ensure a higher price。 It costs no more either in labour or in plant to
produce a good wine than to continue your present rude method of
production。 You may double the value of your wine by an improved system；
without adding materially to your expenses； you will then have a large
margin for profit； which will increase in the same ratio as the quality
of your wine。〃
The grower will reply； 〃We must have roads for carts if we are to
substitute barrels for goat…skins。 So long as the mule…paths are our
only routes we must adhere to the skins； which we acknowledge are
destructive to the quality of the wine and reduce our profits。 Give us
roads。〃
This is a first necessity； and it is simply ridiculous to preach reforms
of quality to the cultivators so long as the present savage country
remains roadless。 It is the first duty of the government to open the
entire wine district by a carefully devised system of communication： for
which a highway rate could be established for repairs。
If this simple work shall be accomplished the goat…skins will disappear；
or should some cultivators cling to the ancient nuisance； a tax could be
levied specially upon wine skins； which would ensure their immediate
abolition。 A new trade would at once be introduced to Cyprus in the
importation of staves for casks； and the necessary coopers。 The huge
jars that are only suggestive of the 〃Forty Thieves〃 would be used as
water…tanks； and the wine would ripen in casks of several hundred
gallons； and be racked off by taps at successive intervals when clear。
The first deposit of tannin and fixed albumen would remain at the bottom
of No。 1 vat； the second deposit after racking in No。 2； and the wine
which is now an astringent； cloudy； and muddy mixture of impurities；
would leave the vine…grower's store bright； and fit for the merchant's
vats in Limasol； and command a more than double price。 This is a matter
of certainty and not conjecture。 Should the black wines be carefully
manufactured； they will be extensively used for mixing with thin French
wines； as they generally possess strength and body in large proportion
to their price。
It will be universally agreed that the making of the roads is the first
necessity； but if the island is in such financial misery that so
important a step must be deferred； the grievances of the vine…growers
should be immediately considered。 The first question to the cultivator
would be； 〃What reforms do you yourself suggest？〃 He replies； 〃Fix an
annual rate per donum； and leave us free to send our wine wherever we
choose； without the abominable vexations and delays caused by the
present arbitrary system； let the tax per donum include every charge for
which we shall be liable： we shall then know at once the limit of our
liability。〃 I cannot see any practical difficulty in such an
arrangement； a highway rate might be an extra when the roads should be
completed。 A small export duty at the various ports would become a
material source of increase to the revenue when the wine trade became
invigorated and extended by government encouragement； and although such
a duty would indirectly affect the grower in the price which the
merchant would pay for the new wine； it would be a collateral tax that
would not be felt individually。
Unless the present oppressive system shall be abolished the wine trade
of Cyprus will languish； and an industry that may be profitably extended
to an important degree will share the fate of a commercial and
agricultural depression which has resulted from the vague conditions of
the British occupation； and from which no recovery can be expected until
confidence in the future prospects of the island shall be established。
CHAPTER XI。
FROM LIMASOL TO THE MOUNTAINS。
The barley harvest was in active operation； and the fields around our
camp were crowded with men； women； and children； all hard at work； but
producing small results compared with an equal expenditure of European
labour。 Their sickles were large and good； but a great proportion of the
crops were either broken off by hand or were dragged out by the roots；
and the earth that adhered was carelessly dusted off by a blow against
the reaper's boots。 In this dry climate there was no necessity for
piling the sheaves； but the small bundles were at once laden upon
donkeys and also conveyed in the two…wheeled carts to the threshing…
ground； upon which it would remain until valued for taxation by the
government official。 In the dry atmosphere of Cyprus； Syria； Egypt； &c。；
the straw breaks easily； and beneath the sharp flints of the ancient
threshing…harrow in present use is quickly reduced to the coarse chaff
known as 〃tibbin；〃 which forms the staple article of food for horses and
all cattle。 Taking advantage of the numbers of people congregated in the
fields； some itinerant gipsies with a monkey and performing bears were
camped beneath the caroub…trees； about half a mile from our position。
The bears were the Syrian variety。 Throughout Cyprus the gipsies are
known as tinners of pots and makers of wooden spoons； which seems to be
the normal occupation of their tribe throughout the world； they have
also a character for a peculiar attachment to fowls and any other small
matters that belong to private individuals which may be met with during
their wanderings。
The beans of the caroub…trees were already large； and promised a good
crop in spite of the dry weather。 The roots of these evergreens
penetrate to a great depth； and obtain nourishment from beneath when the
surface soil is perished by drought。 I have never seen a caroub
overthrown by the wind； although the extremely large head that is at all
seasons covered with leaves must offer a great resistance。 The fruit of
this tree （Ceratonia siliqua） is already an important export from
Cyprus； and if the cultivati