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lands with trees； those useless lands are already more or less covered
with bush or woods； and denote their own position； in the Carpas； the
Troodos； and all mountain and hill ranges。〃
Where ancient forests have disappeared in favour of cultivation； it
would be folly to convert an improvement into the original wilderness。
That question is easily simplified； and when the department of Woods and
Forests shall be established； a few years of energy will produce a new
picture in a country where the growth of timber proceeds quickly。
But the last necessary reform still remains unnoticed； this should
determine the amount of caroubs； mulberry； and fruit…trees that should
be CUMPULSORILY planted by all proprietors of land in proportion to
their acreage； and this is absolutely necessary。
As I have described in many portions of our journey through Cyprus； the
simple action of an insignificant stream； or of a solitary cattle…wheel；
forms an oasis in the rainless desert of the Messaria； and the eye that
has been wearied with the barren aspect of a treeless surface is
gladdened by the relief of a sudden appearance of groves of oranges；
lemons； and other shady trees； the result of a supply of water。 Whenever
such welcome spots are met with upon the miserable plain； the question
invariably arises； 〃Why should such fruitful and delightful positions be
so rare？ The soil is fertile； the climate is favourable； all that is
required is water； and energy。〃
If a Cypriote is asked the question； he invariably replies 〃that during
the Turkish administration the fruit…trees increased their troubles；
owing to the vexatious and extortionate taxation of the crops； therefore
they were glad to be quit of them altogether。〃 Your question No。 2
follows； 〃Why do you not plant trees now that the English have occupied
the country？〃 The reply is stereotyped； 〃We are not sure that you will
remain here permanently； and if you abandon the island the Turks will
resume the old system with even greater oppression than before。〃 This is
an unanswerable dilemma； which no doubt retards improvements； but there
is a third difficulty which is invariably brought prominently forward
when any suggestions are made for an extension of agricultural
enterprise： 〃We have no money。〃 This is absolutely true； although I have
heard the assertion contested by certain authorities。 The people as a
rule are miserably poor； and cannot afford to run the risks of
experiments； especially during the present uncertainty connected with
the British occupation。
The opinions that I personally offer are based upon the assumption that
England can never recede from the position she has assumed in Cyprus；
which she must continue； for better or for worse； as a point of honour。
Any abandonment of the protection we have afforded to the inhabitants
would tend to aggravate their position； should they return to the
authority of the Porte； and their only hope would lie in the occupation
of our empty bed by France； who certainly requires a coaling depot
towards the east of the Mediterranean。 Should we wash our hands of
Cyprus； and evacuate it in a similar manner to Corfu； we should become
the laughing…stock of Europe； and no future step taken by England in the
form of a 〃protectorate〃 would ever be relied upon。 Had we retained
Corfu to the present moment； no doubt would have existed as to any
change in our intentions respecting Cyprus； but the precedent
established by our retirement from that grand strategical position has
borne its fruit in the want of confidence now felt by all classes in the
permanence of our new acquisition。
It will be admitted that a general want of elasticity has succeeded to
the first bound of expectation that was raised by the sudden
announcement of a British occupation； the government cannot be held
responsible for the disappointment of rash adventurers； but their true
responsibility commenced when they assumed the charge of the inhabitants
of Cyprus。 The first year of the new administration has been marked by a
minimum rainfall that has caused the destruction of all crops dependent
upon the natural water…supply of seasons； and this partial famine of the
first year of our occupation is generally regarded as a disaster。
Although disastrous； I believe the serious warning will operate with
wholesome effect； by opening the eyes of the authorities to the absolute
necessity of directing special attention to the requirements of the
people； who after centuries of oppression have become apathetic and
inert； which unfits them for the spontaneous action that should be
exerted against the dangerous exigencies of their climate。 The
government of Cyprus must be to a certain extent paternal； and the
planting of trees that will eventually benefit not only individuals； but
the island generally； and ultimately the revenue； should be made
compulsory； in proportion to the area of the various holdings； due
assistance being accorded to the proprietors by way of loans。
The eucalyptus is suitable for many localities in the lowlands of
Larnaca and Famagousta； and it might be profitably introduced throughout
such swampy soils as the neighbourhood of Morphu and other similar
positions with good sanitary results； but such trees will represent the
woods and forests of the low country without a productive income to the
population； whereas by an enforced cultivation of fruit…trees upon every
holding the island would in a few years become a garden； and the
exportation of fruit to Egypt； only thirty hours' distant； would be the
commencement of an important trade； alike beneficial to the individual
proprietors and to the island generally。
At the present time； and for many years past； Alexandria has been
supplied with all fruits from Jaffa； Beyrout； and various ports on the
coast of Syria； but there is no reason why Cyprus should not eventually
monopolise the trade； if special attention shall be bestowed （by the
suggested department of Woods and Forests） upon the qualities and
cultivation whenever an arrangement for an extension of planting shall
be carried out。 I have never seen any fruits of high quality in Cyprus；
but they are generally most inferior； owing to the neglect of grafting；
and the overcrowding of the trees。 The cherries which grow in the
villages from 2500 to 4500 feet above the sea are taken down to Limasol
and the principal towns for sale； but they are small and tasteless；
although red and bright in colour。 They grow in large quantities； and
are never attacked by birds which render the crop precarious in England；
and necessitate the expense of netting； should the best varieties be
introduced； every natural advantage exists for their cultivation。
The apricots are not much larger than chestnuts； and would be classed as
〃wild fruit；〃 from the extreme inferiority of size and flavour； but
there is no reason except neglect for the low quality of a delicious
species of fruit that seems from the luxuriant growth of the tree to be
specially adapted to the soil and climate。 It is useless to enumerate
the varieties of fruits that are brought to market； all are inferior；
excepting grapes and lemons。 The productions of the gardens exhibit the
miserable position of the island； which emanates from a want of
elasticity in a debased and oppressed population too apathetic and
hopeless to attempt improvements。
England can change this wretched stagnation by the application of
capital； and by encouraging the development of the first necessity；
WATER； without which； all attempts at agricultural improvements； and the
extension of tree…planting in the low country； would be futile。 I shall
therefore devote the following chapter to the subject of artificial
irrigation； and its results。
CHAPTER XIV。
REMARKS ON IRRIGATION。
The ancient prosperity of Cyprus must have been due to artificial
irrigation； which ensured a maximum of production； similar to the
inundated lands of Egypt。 In the latter country the Nile is a 〃Salvator
Mundi；〃 without which Egypt would be a simple prolongation of the Nubian
and Libyan deserts； in the absence of a seasonable rainfall。 The
difference between the great cereal…producing portion of Cyprus and the
Delta of Egypt is； that； although the plain of Messaria has been formed
chiefly through the action of the Pedias river and other periodical
mountain streams； which have deposited a rich stratum of soil during
inundations； the rivers are merely torrents； or simple conduits； which
carry off the waters of heavy storms； or intervals of rain； and act as
drains in conveying the surplus waters during floods； while at other
times they are absolutely dry。
If the Nile were controlled by a series of weirs or dams； with sluices
to divert the high waters of the period into natural depressions within
the desert； to form reservoirs at high levels for the supply of Egypt in
seasons of scarcity； the command of the water…supply would be far
preferable to the chances of rain in the most favoured country。 Water；
like fire； should be the slave of man； to whom it is the first
necessity； therefore his first effort in his struggle with the elements
should reduce this power to vass