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this tree （Ceratonia siliqua） is already an important export from
Cyprus； and if the cultivation is encouraged there can be no doubt of an
enormous extension of the trade。 The tree is indigenous to the island；
but in its wild state is unproductive； it simply requires grafting to
ensure a crop。 The wild young trees are generally transplanted into the
desired positions； and then grafted from the cultivated species； but
there is no reason why they should not be grafted in situ。 The olives；
which are also indigenous； might be treated in a similar manner to
render the crown…lands productive； which are now mere jungles of shrubs
and trees in their natural state。 I shall reserve further remarks upon
this subject for a chapter specially devoted to 〃Woods and Forests。〃
The caroub at present commands an extensive market。 The fruit is usually
known commercially as the 〃locust…bean；〃 the taste is a compound of
treacle and Spanish liquorice； and would generally be appreciated by
children； monkeys； pigs； and cattle。 The Cassia fistula of Ceylon
resembles it somewhat in flavour； but the Ceratonia siliqua is free from
the medicinal properties of the former tree。 Since the government
monopoly was abolished in 1827 the trade has received an impetus； and
this extension due to freedom is an example to our present government in
their relations to the oppressive system connected with the wine trade。
According to the consular reports the crop of 1872 was about 10；000
tons； which sold free on board at 4 pounds 10 shillings per ton。 At that
time the chief purchaser was Russia； and the locust…beans were exported
to various positions upon the Black Sea。 In 1875 England became a large
consumer； and I believe the well…known 〃Thorley's Patent Food for
Cattle〃 contains a considerable amount of this nutritive substance。 The
influence upon the market of a demand from England raised the exports in
1875 to 18；000 tons。 A fluctuation took place in 1876； and although the
crop was deficient； the prices fell to 2 pounds 13 shillings 6 pence per
ton free on board。 This reaction was probably due to the large stocks on
hand in England； purchased at a high rate； from 4 pounds 10 shillings to
5 pounds per ton； which had driven Russian competition out of the
market； therefore the 1876 gathering found but few purchasers。 In 1877
the yield was 13；500 tons； and the price rose from 2 pounds 13 shillings
6 pence to 3 pounds 5 shillings and at length to 4 pounds per ton； free
on board。
The average produce of a tree； taking the mean of all sizes； would be
about 84 lbs。 or three…quarters of a hundredweight； allowing the mean
crop of five years to be 13；000 tons； this would give the number of
productive trees in Cyprus as 346；666； or in round numbers 350；000；
which； at eight trees to the acre = 43；750 acres of caroub…trees。 I do
not think as a rule that a larger number than eight trees are to be
found upon an acre； as it is the custom to cultivate cereals upon the
same ground； therefore the caroubs are thinly planted。 This calculation
cannot be accepted as exhibiting the actual position of the trees； as a
very large proportion are not planted in order； but grow independently
and promiscuously； and are productive simply as originally wild trees
that have been grafted。 Should Cyprus belong bona…fide to England；
machinery for crushing and pressing the locust…beans will be established
on the spot； which； by compressing the bulk； will reduce the freight and
materially lessen the price when delivered in England。 In travelling
through Cyprus nothing strikes the observation of the traveller more
forcibly than the neglect of tree…planting。 The caroub is an indigenous
production volunteering its services to man； and producing an important
revenue； there are immense tracts of land which by their rocky nature
are unfit for the general purposes of husbandry； at the same time the
rich soil in the interstices is eminently adapted for the cultivation of
the caroub。 Such lands are at the present moment abandoned to a growth
of jungle； among which this irrepressible tree dominates all other
vegetation； but in its wild state remains unproductive。 The
neighbourhood of Limasol is for many miles richly ornamented by these
welcome shade…producers； and presents an example of what other portions
of the island might become。
During my stay at Limasol I was several times invaded by a crowd of
people from a neighbouring village； with complaints upon an assumed
injustice connected with their water…supply。 It was in vain that I
assured them of my unofficial capacity； they were determined to have
their say； and； according to their threat； to 〃TELEGRAPH TO VICTORIA；〃
unless they could obtain redress。 I referred them to Colonel Warren；
R。A。； the chief commissioner of their district； who had already been
sufficiently perplexed with their case。 It appeared that a stream
flowing from the mountains had nearly two centuries ago been diverted
into an artificial channel by the inhabitants of Kolossi and others for
the purpose of irrigating the various lands in succession； according to
the gradations of their levels。 This water had become a right； and the
value of all lands thus irrigated had been appraised in proportion。
According to their story； some years ago a Greek who commanded capital
purchased an estate at Kolossi； and having made a journey to
Constantinople； where he remained for some years； he took the
opportunity of bribing some high officials to obtain for him an irade
from the Sultan； giving him the entire right to the water…supply； which
had for so great a length of time been the acknowledged property of the
neighbouring landholders。 This irade was issued upon the plea that all
natural waters （i。e。 streams） belong to the Sultan。 A wide field for
litigation was thus opened； and the Greek； having more than the usual
allowance of 〃the wisdom of the serpent；〃 lost no time in investing
large sums in the corruption of all those who would be summoned as local
witnesses whenever the case should be brought before the ordinary
tribunals。 The result was that after great expense in the costs of
litigation； an appeal to the superior court during the British
administration had been favourable to the plaintiffs； and the Greek
proprietor was held to be legally in possession of all water…rights； to
the exclusion of the original owners。 He； however offered to supply them
with water for their farms at a fixed rate； whereas they had hitherto
enjoyed that free right for upwards of a century。 This loss； or
abstraction； of so important a supply； upon which the actual existence
of the farms depended in seasons of drought； not only impoverished the
cultivators during the present year of famine； but reduced the value of
their land to an enormous extent； as farms with a water…supply are worth
more than quadruple the price of those which are dependent upon the
seasons。 Of course I could not help the poor people； it appeared to my
uneducated sense of equity to be the maximum of injustice。 The question
hung upon the Sultan's right to the natural water…supply； which I
believe has been officially declared invalid； by what other right the
monopoly of the water had been conveyed away from the original
proprietors I could not understand。 The Greek was not enjoying his
victory in absolute peace of mind； as the neighbouring farmers avenged
their legal defeat by cutting holes in the embankments of his
watercourses； and thereby nightly flooding their own fields； which； as
the channels extended for many miles； would have required the presence
of more than all the police of the district to discover the offenders。
Upon one occasion upwards of forty of these people appeared mounted upon
mules around my camp； to urge my intercession on their behalf； declaring
their perfect faith in the honour and good intentions of the English
authorities； but at the same time lamenting their ignorance of the
native language； which threw the entire power into the hands of the
dragomans （interpreters）； of whose character they spoke in terms which
it is to be hoped were highly exaggerated。 The people begged me to ride
over to the locality； to see with my own eyes the position of affairs；
which I arranged to do sine die； and after advising them to exercise a
temporary patience； I got rid of the deputation without suggesting 〃that
under the existing agrarian dispute they should let their farms to some
enterprising Irish tenants from Tipperary。〃
I mention this incident； which is one of many others upon the same
subject； to exhibit the complications that have always arisen from the
contention upon water…rights； that will require some special
legislation。 。 。 。
The weather was becoming warm at Limasol； the thermometer ranging from
70 degrees at 7 A。M。 to 83 degrees at 3 P。M。 There was a trouble in the
water…supply； as that for drinking purposes had to be conveyed by
donkeys from a distance of three or four miles。 The market in the town；
although well arranged externally； was governed by peculiarly
restrictive municipal regulations； the price of meat and several other
articles being fixed at a common standard！ According to this absurd rule
inf