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some cases been almost abandoned。 。 。 。
〃The cultivation of vines for the manufacture of wine has been so
heavily and unjustly taxed； that a great part of the vineyards have of
late years been turned to other and more profitable purposes； or else
have been abandoned； and consequently a branch of agriculture for which
the island is especially suited and a remunerative article of commerce
is neglected and allowed to decline。 An extensive development of
vineyards and manufacture of wine should be encouraged； and with this
object it has been suggested that it might be wise to free this
production from all except export duty。
〃Allusion has already been made to the injurious effect of the
collection of the tithe （dimes） upon cotton at the time when the crop is
gathered； instead of at the time of shipment； and it has been explained
how the former method prevents the farmers from growing the best and
most remunerative varieties of the plant； this is a matter that requires
the attention of the authorities when the re…adjustment of the taxes is
considered。〃
Captain Savile's useful book is an echo of consular statements and
reports written in England for government information without any
personal experience of the island； but from my own investigations I can
thoroughly endorse the views expressed； and I only regret that the
miserable conditions of our occupation have rendered such necessary
reforms most difficult； as the poverty of the present government of
Cyprus cannot afford to run the risk of experimental lessons in
taxation。
When criticising and condemning existing evils； it must be distinctly
understood that I do not presume to attach blame to individual
authorities of the local government： I denounce the arbitrary and
oppressive system of TURKISH rules； which； although in some instances
mitigated by our administration； still remain in force； and are the
results of the conditions that were accepted when England resolved upon
this anomalous occupation。 I have to describe Cyprus as I saw it in
1879； and in this work I endeavour to introduce the public to the true
aspect of the situation 〃as I saw it；〃 other people have an equal right
with myself to their own opinions upon various subjects； but； should we
differ upon certain questions； we shall at least be unanimous in praise
of the extreme devotion to a most difficult task in a contradictory
position； exhibited not only by the governor； and commissioners of
districts； but by all British officers entrusted with authority。 If
Cyprus were free from the fetters of the Turkish Convention； and the
revenue should be available for the necessary improvements； with
commercial and agricultural reforms； the same energy now bestowed by the
governor and other officials would rapidly expand the resources of the
island。 We are prone to expect too much； and must remember that at the
time I write； only twelve months have elapsed since the day of the
British military occupation。 No officers understood either the language；
or laws； of the people they had to govern； they were for the most part
specially educated for the military profession； and they were suddenly
plunged into official positions where agricultural； legal； commercial；
and engineering difficulties absorbed their entire attention； all of
which had to be comprehended through the medium of an interpreter。 It is
rare that the most favoured individual combines such general knowledge；
Turks and Greeks； antagonistic races； were to lie down contented like
the lion and the lamb under the blessing of a British rule： all
animosities were to be forgotten。 The religion of Mussulmans would
remain inviolate； and the Greek Church would hold its former
independence： freedom and equality were to be assured when the English
flag replaced the Crescent and Star upon the red ensign beneath which
Cyprus had withered as before a flame； the resources of the country were
to awaken as from a long sleep； and the world should witness the
marvellous change between Cyprus when under Turks； and when transferred
to Englishmen。 〃Look upon that picture； and on this！〃 The officers of
our army were the magicians to effect this transformation； not only
strangers to the climate； language； laws； customs； people； but without
MONEY： as the island had been robbed of revenue by the conditions of the
Turkish Convention。
In spite of the many abuses which still exist； and which demand reform；
there could not be a more tangible proof of the general efficiency of
the officers of our army than the picture of Cyprus after the first
year's occupation。 Although the government has been severely pinched for
means； and a season of cruel drought has smitten the agriculturists；
with commerce languishing through the uncertainty of our tenure； the
Cyprian population of all creeds and classes have already learned to
trust in the honour and unflinching integrity of British rulers； which
ensures them justice and has relieved them from their former oppressors。
CHAPTER XVII。
THE DISTRICT OF LIMASOL AND LANDOWNERS。
The port of Limasol will eventually become the chief commercial centre
of Cyprus； and in the depression of 1879 caused by drought and general
uncertainty it formed a favourable exception to the general rule。 It may
be interesting to examine the position of the revenue during the years
inclusive from 1875 to 1878。
CUSTOMS。
Year。 Revenue。 Expenditure。 Balance。
Piastres。 Piastres。 Piastres。
1875 964；839 164；663 800；176
1876 819；139 172；472 646；667
1877 1；340；643 169；506 1；171；137
1878 1；553；363 161；594 1；391；769
The exports from Limasol have been largely in excess of imports：
Year Exports Year Imports
1875 77；022 1875 47；325
1876 59；895 1876 50；920
1877 93；805 1877 41；920
1878 101；457 1878 99；714
The principal articles of export from Limasol are wine and caroubs； and
the general production of these items has been as follows：
Year。 Okes。 Year。 Tons。
1875 Wine 4；811；732 1875 Caroubs 8；690
1876 〃 3；710；884 1876 〃 6；080
1877 〃 2；208；617 1877 〃 6；520
1878 〃 5；795；109 1878 〃 4；345
The different descriptions of wine and spirits produced in the
Limasol district during the last four years are as follows；
values in okes：
Year。 Raki or …Wine。
native brandy Commanderiea。 Red Wine。 Black Wine。
1875 467；711 173；946 85；008 4；056；067
1876 251；298 87；585 56；434 2；815；567
1877 181；269 45；522 38；563 1；943；290
1878 378；694 180；103 133；555 5；102；757
In the year 1878 the goods exported from Limasol may be approximately
represented by
Cotton for Austria 。 。 。 。 10；000 okes valued at 500 pounds sterling。
Wool for France c。 。 。 。 。 9；500 okes valued at 560 pounds。
Rags for Italy 。 。 。 。 。 。 77；600 okes valued at 700 pounds。
Sumach in leaf for
Greece。 。 。 。 。 110；000 okes valued at 500 pounds。
Black wine for
Turkey。 。 。 。 1；850；000 okes valued at 25；000 pounds。
Commanderia for
Austria 。 。 。 。 155；000 okes valued at 2；075 pounds。
Caroubs for
England； France；
Russia； and Italy 。 。 。 。 10；000 tons valued at 33；000 pounds。
Raisins for Austria；
France； and Turkey 。 。 。 。 90；000 okes valued at 850 pounds。
Skins for Greece 。 。 。 。 。 。9；800 okes valued at 1；025 pounds。
Sundries 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 valued at 11；000 pounds。
Total value of exports。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 75；210 pounds sterling。
The tobacco produced in the districts of Limasol and Baffo and at Lefka；
inclusive； is a mere trifle compared to the capabilities of the
island：
In 1875 the crop amounted to 1；395 okes。
1876 〃 1；280 〃
1877 〃 857 〃
1878 〃 1；731 〃
This is only worth enumeration as an example of the utter insignificance
of the production； which should be an important item in the agricultural
wealth of the island。 The greater portion of the tobacco consumed in
Cyprus is imported in bales from Salonica； and is consigned to
manufacturers who divide and classify the leaves； which are cut； and
formed into packets bearing the Custom House stamps； supplied upon
purchase。 Limasol alone imports about 20；000 okes； which are forwarded
from Larnaca； where the duty is paid。 No export duties of any
description are levied upon goods from this island。
The direct benefit to the Cypriotes conferred by the British occupation
was exhi