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the present moment the stringent enactment against the destruction of
trees may be evaded like any of the Ten Commandments； because there is
absolutely no staff； nor special officers for the supervision of woods
and forests。 This important subject requires a separate department； and
nothing can be more simple if administered by persons qualified by
education for the development of trees suitable to the island。 The
poverty of the local government； owing to the miserable conditions of
our tenure； which send the cream to Turkey； and suckle the necessary
staff upon the thin skimmed…milk； does not permit the real improvement
of the forests。 It is simply ridiculous to make laws without the active
weapons to enforce authority； we may as well rest satisfied with the
game laws in England and dismiss our keepers； as prohibit the cutting of
wood in Cyprus without supervising the forests by a staff of foresters。
If the words 〃Thou shalt not steal；〃 even from a divine command； were
sufficient to prevent felony and petty larceny； it would be folly to
incur the expense of police； but we know that practically all laws must
be upheld by force； represented by the authorised guardians of the
state。 At this moment in Cyprus the law proclaims； 〃Thou shalt not cut a
tree；〃 while practically you may cut as many as you like in the mountain
forests； as there is no person authorised to interfere with your acts。
Some miserable offender may be pounced upon in his own garden； near one
of the principal towns； where the law SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ENFORCED；
as interfering with the individual rights of private property； but in
the situations where the prohibition is of the first importance； there
is literally not an officer or man to prevent the usual depredations。
Why？ The answer must be accepted。 There is no money； and we cannot
afford an independent department of 〃Woods and Forests。〃 If the country
is to continue in this slip…shod form it is a disgrace to England。
There is time to save the forests from absolute destruction； and in my
own opinion； before anything is done beyond the necessary roads and
irrigation loans； every possible attention should be concentrated upon
the protection and development of forest…trees。
The position at this moment is as follows。 Throughout the entire
mountain range there are not 5 per cent。 of pines free from mutilation。
The whole of Troodos； and the mountain districts from near Lithrodondo
to as far west as Poli…ton…Khrysokus； are naturally adapted for the
growth of pines and cypress； which love the soil of the plutonic rocks；
and drive their roots deep into the interstices； deriving nourishment
where nothing else would thrive。 Upon the highest altitudes there is not
a dwarf shrub to cover the surface of the loose coffee…coloured rocks；
where in the winter the snow accumulates to a depth of twenty feet； yet
there we find the pines and cypress in their greatest vigour； but even
to these solitary heights the Cypriote has penetrated with his unsparing
axe； and has created a desolation that must be seen to be understood。
There is no sight so exasperating as this uncalled…for destruction； it
is beyond all belief； and when the amount of labour is considered that
must have been expended in this indiscriminate attack upon forest…trees
THAT ARE LEFT TO ROT UPON THE GROUND where they have fallen； the object
of the attack is at first sight inconceivable。 The sight of a mountain
pine…forest in Cyprus would convey the impression that an enemy who had
conquered the country had determined to utterly destroy it； even to the
primaeval forests； he had therefore felled； and left to rot； the greater
portion of the trees； but finding the labour beyond his means； he had
contented himself with barking； ringing； and hacking at the base of the
remainder； to ensure their ultimate destruction。
The extreme heights of Troodos； shoulders and head； are about 6300 feet
above the sea； from which altitude the pines and cypress descend to
within 1500 feet of the level。 There are rough native mule…paths
throughout the mountains； and the sure…footed animals will carry a man
with ease where walking would be most fatiguing； owing to the loose
rocks and smaller stones； which cover every inch of the surface。 I have
walked and ridden over the greater portion； but in all cases I have been
overcome with anger and dismay at the terrible exhibition of wanton and
unwarrantable desolation。 If a hurricane had passed over the country and
torn up by the roots nine trees out of every ten that composed the
forest； the destruction would be nothing compared to that of the native
Cypriote； who mutilates those which he has not felled； the wind would
only upturn； but would spare those whose strength had resisted the
attack。 Magnificent trees lie rotting upon the ground in thousands upon
thousands； untouched since the hour when they fell before the most
scientifically applied axe。 I never saw a higher example of woodcraft。
The trunks of pines two feet in diameter are cut so carefully； that the
work of the axe is almost as neat as that of a cross…cut saw。 These
large trees are divided about four feet from the ground； as that is a
convenient height for the woodman； and spare his back from stooping to
his blow。 Each cut with the axe is nearly at a right angle with the
stem and so regularly is the cutting conducted completely round the
tree； that at length only two； or at the most three inches of wood
remain to support the trunk； which in the absence of wind remains
balanced to the last moment； until overthrown by the wedge。
Upon first arrival in the country it is difficult to comprehend the
reason for this general destruction； but as a gipsy in Turkey will burn
down a handsome tree in order to make his wooden spoons； so the Cypriote
will fell a large pine for the sake of the base of five or six feet in
length that will afford him a wooden trough either for water or to feed
his pigs。 A great number of the larger trees are cut and partially
scooped for four or five feet before their destruction is determined
upon； as the carpenter wishes to prove the quality of the heart。 Many
are rejected； and the operation proceeds no further； but the tree
remains mutilated for ever。
Other trees are felled for the purpose of obtaining tar。 Before they are
absolutely cut down they are tapped by cutting a deep incision nearly
into the centre of the heart； like a huge notch； and they are left for a
time to prove whether the tar will run； as exhibited by the production
of the resin。 If unfavourable； the tree is left thus cut to the heart
and blemished。 Nearly every tree is thus marked。 If the signs of tar are
propitious； the tree is felled； the branches are lopped； and the trunk
cut into sections and split。 All pieces are then arranged longitudinally
in a rude kiln formed of loose stones and earth； in which they are
burned； and the tar as it exudes is led by a narrow gutter formed of
clay into the receptacle prepared。
Should a straight pole be required for any special purpose； a large pine
is felled； and the tapered； pointed top is cut off to a convenient
length； the great spar being rejected and left to decay upon the ground。
I have never seen pit…saws used； but as a rule； should a beam or stout
plank be required； a whole tree is adzed away to produce it； and great
piles of chips are continually met with in the forests； where some large
trunk has thus perished under the exhausting process。 I was rather
surprised； when the military huts were conveyed at an immense expense of
transport to the mountain station； that a few pairs of English sawyers
had not been employed to cut the inexhaustible supply of seasoned wood
now lying uselessly upon the ground； that would have supplied all
necessary planks and rafters； &c。
Fires； either accidental or malicious； are not uncommon； and I have seen
hill…sides completely destroyed。 At a certain season the pines change
their foliage and the ground becomes thickly covered to the depth of a
couple of inches or more with the dry and highly inflammable spines。
Should these take fire； the conflagration in a high wind becomes
serious； and spreads to the trees； which perish。
Nothing would be easier than to defend the interests of the woods and
forests by an efficient staff of foresters； who should be Highlanders
from Scotland accustomed to mountain climbing； or English game…keepers；
who would combine the protection of forests with that of game。 These
men； under the command of a certain number of officers； should be
quartered in particular districts； and would quickly acquire a knowledge
of the localities。 The higher mountains would be their home during the
summer months； from which points the sound of an axe could be heard from
a great distance； and from the commanding elevation a depredator could
be distinctly identified with a good telescope。 The Cypriotes are easily
governed； and should a few severe examples be made public when the
destroyers had been taken in the act； an exceedingly small staff of
foresters would be sufficient to insure order and protection。
The pine and cypress are the trees most generally attacked； and； as I
have already