cyprus, as i saw it in 1879-第29部分

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existed　as　a　most　important　harbour；　therefore　he　is　not　experimenting
upon　an　unknown　bottom。　The　line　of　reefs　affords　the　engineer's　chief
desideratum；　〃a　sound　foundation；〃　and　the　materials　for　his　concrete
blocks　are　close　at　hand　in　the　chaotic　mass　of　stone　now　choking　with
ruins　the　area　of　the　city；　in　the　neighbouring　ruins　of　Salamis；　and；
nearer　still；　in　the　native　rock　from　which　Famagousta　has　been
quarried。　The　island　of　Santorin　from　whence　the　pozzolano　is　supplied
for　hydraulic　cement；　is　only　three　days　distant。　Few　places　possess　in
so　high　a　degree　the　natural　advantages　for　becoming　a　first…class
harbour；　and　it　has　been　computed　that　about　300　acres　of　water　can　be
converted　into　a　wall…locked　basin；　with　an　entrance　from　the　south
that　would　be　secure　during　all　weathers。　The　Bay　of　Famagousta　is
extremely　deep；　exceeding　150　fathoms　which　affords　an　additional
facility　for　getting　rid　of　the　contents　of　the　lighters；　as　the　mud
from　the　dredgers　could　be　discharged　at　sea　without　danger　of　its
return。

All　competent　persons　who　have　examined　the　present　harbour　are
unanimous　in　the　opinion　that　〃a　very　moderate　outlay　would　secure　a
first…class　port；　which　would；　as　an　impregnable　coaling…depot　and
arsenal；　complete　the　links　of　the　chain　of　fortresses　which　are　the
guardians　of　the　Mediterranean。　In　a　war　with　any　maritime　Power　the
first　necessity　is　an　uninterrupted　line　of　fortified　coaling…stations；
at　intervals　not　exceeding　five　days'　steaming　at　ten　knots。　A　naval　war
will　depend　entirely　upon　the　supply　of　coal；　which　will　in　all
probability　be　declared　〃contraband　of　war。〃　In　the　absence　of　a
dependable　chain　of　stations　THROUGHOUT　THE　WORLD；　the　action　of　the
most　powerful　cruisers　will　be　extremely　limited；　as　they　will　be
rendered　helpless　when　their　supply　is　reduced　to　the　minimum　sufficient
to　carry　them　to　a　friendly　port。

Where　oceans　must　be　traversed；　the　difficulty　will　be　increased；　as　the
coal…capacity　of　the　vessel　will　only　command　a　given　mileage；　she　will
therefore　be　in　her　weakest　condition　after　a　long　voyage；　and　as　her
fighting　power　must　depend　upon　her　steam；　precisely　as　the　strength　of
man　depends　upon　his　food；　she　must　be　absolutely　certain　of　obtaining　a
supply　of　coal　in　every　sea　where　her　presence　is　required。

Should　the　most　powerful　vessel　afloat；　after　a　long　cruise　during　which
she　has　encountered　head…winds　and　weather　that　had　caused　delay　and　a
great　consumption　of　fuel；　be　reduced　to　only　a　few　hours'　steaming；　she
would　be　at　the　mercy　of　an　inferior　antagonist　whose　bunkers　might　be
well　filled。　The　commerce　and　the　colonies　of　Great　Britain　demand　the
presence　of　our　vessels　in　every　sea；　the　greater　part　of　that　enormous
carrying…power　is　now　represented　by　steamers　which　have　replaced　the
sailing…vessels　of　old：　therefore　in　the　event　of　war　we　must　possess
coaling…depots　which　in　case　of　necessity　could　meet　the　demands　of　any
of　our　ships；　whether　naval　or　commercial。

The　attention　of　the　usually　far…seeing　public　is　seldom　directed　to
this　important　question　of　coaling…stations；　but　an　examination　of　a
recently　constructed　globe　will　discover　the　apparently　insignificant
red　dots　which　represent　the　dominant　power　of　England　in　every　portion
of　the　world。　The　smallest　island　may　become　the　most　impregnable　and
important　coaling…depot。　It　is　the　fashion　for　some　modern　reformers
（happily　few）　to　suggest　a　curtailment　of　the　British　Empire；　on　the
principle　that　〃by　pruning　we　should　improve　the　strength　of　the
national　tree。〃　If　there　are　rotten　boughs；　or　exhausting　and　useless
shoots；　the　analogy　might　be　practical；　but　if　we　examine　carefully　a
map　of　the　world　it　would　puzzle　the　Royal　Geographical　Society　to
determine　the　point　that　we　should　abandon。　An　example　of　temporary
insanity　was　displayed　in　the　evacuation　of　Corfu；　which　would　under　our
present　foreign　policy　have　become　invaluable　as　a　powerfully　fortified
coaling…station；　commanding　the　entrance　of　the　Adriatic　and　the
neighbouring　seas。　It　is　this　unfortunate　precedent　which　is　paralysing
all　the　natural　elasticity　of　commercial　enterprise　in　Cyprus；　as　the
inhabitants　and　English　alike　feel　their　insecurity；　and　hesitate　before
the　uncertain　future；　which　may　depend　upon　a　party　vote　in　the　distant
House　of　Commons。

There　can　be　no　doubt　that　Cyprus　or　Crete　was　requisite　to　England　as
the　missing　link　in　the　chain　of　our　communications　with　Egypt。　As　a
strategical　point；　Cyprus　must　be　represented　by　Famagousta；　without
which　it　would　be　useless　for　the　ostensible　purpose　of　its　occupation。
Many　persons　of　great　practical　experience　would　have　preferred　Crete；
as　already　possessing　a　safe　harbour　in　Suda　Bay；　with　a　climate
superior　to　that　of　Cyprus；　while　according　to　our　assumed　defensive
alliance　with　Turkey　in　the　event　of　a　renewed　attack　by　Russia；　we
should　have　acquired　the　advantage　of　Cyprus　whenever　required；　without
the　expense　or　responsibility；　and　we　should　in　addition　have
established　a　station　on　the　coast　of　Asia　Minor　at　the　secure　harbour
afforded　by　the　Gulf　of　Ayas　at　Alexandretta。

These　geographical　questions　are　a　matter　of　opinion；　but　now　that　we
actually　have　occupied　Cyprus　it　is　absolutely　necessary　to　do
something。　Without　Famagousta；　the　island　would　be　worthless　as　a　naval
station；　with　it；　as　a　first…class　harbour　and　arsenal；　we　should
dominate　the　eastern　portion　of　the　Mediterranean；　entirely　command　the
approach　to　Egypt；　and　keep　open　our　communications　with　the　Suez　Canal
and　the　consequent　route　to　India。　In　the　event　of　the　Euphrates　valley
line　of　railway　becoming　an　accomplished　fact；　Cyprus　will　occupy　the
most　commanding　position。　But；　all　these　advantages　will　be　neutralised
unless　Famagousta　shall　represent　the　power　of　England　like　Malta　and
Gibraltar。　The　more　minutely　that　we　scrutinise　the　question　of　a
Cyprian　occupation；　the　more　prominent　becomes　the　importance　of
Famagousta；　with　it；　Cyprus　is　the　key　of　a　great　position；　without　it；
the　affair　is　a　dead…lock。

There　is　unfortunately　a　serious　drawback　in　the　extreme　unhealthiness
of　this　otherwise　invaluable　situation；　Famagousta；　which　would　at
present　render　it　unfit　for　a　military　station。　There　are　several
causes；　all　of　which　must　be　removed；　before　the　necessary　sanitary
change　can　be　accomplished。　The　vast　heaps　of　stones；　all　of　which　are
of　an　extremely　porous　nature；　have　absorbed　the　accumulated　filth　of
ages；　and　the　large　area　now　occupied　by　these　ruins　must　be　a　fertile
source　of　noxious　exhalations。　During　the　rainy　season　the　surface
water；　carrying　with　it　every　impurity；　furnishes　a　fresh　supply　of
poison　to　be　stored　beneath　these　health…destroying　masses；　which　cannot
possibly　be　cleansed　otherwise　than　by　their　complete　obliteration。　It
may　be　readily　understood　that　the　high　ramparts　of　the　walls　to　a
certain　extent　prevent　a　due　circulation　of　air；　which　increases　the
danger　of　miasma　from　the　ruin…covered　and　reeking　area　of　the　old
Venetian　city。　Should　the　harbour　works　be　commenced；　all　this　now
useless　and　dangerous　material　will　be　available　for　constructing　the
blocks　of　concrete　required　for　the　sea…wall；　and　the　surface　of　the
town　will　be　entirely　freed　from　the　present　nuisance　without　additional
expense。　The　few　modern　buildings　should　be　compulsorily　purchased　by
the　Government；　and　entirely　swept　away；　so　that　the　area　inclosed　by
the　fortification　walls　should　represent　a　perfectly　clean　succession　of
levels　in　the　form　of　broad　terraces；　which　would　drain　uniformly
towards　the　sea。　Upon　these　purified　and　well…drained　plateaux　the　new
town　could　be　erected；　upon　a　special　plan　suitable　to　the　locality；　and
in　harmony　with　the　military　requirements　of　a　fortified　position。　The
value　of　the　land　thus　recovered　from　the　existing　ruin　would　be
considerable；　and；　if　let　on　building　leases；　would　repay　the　expense　of
levelling；　draining；　and　arranging　for　occupation。　In　this　manner　one　of
the　prime　causes　of　the　present　unhealthiness　would　be　removed；　by　the
same　operation；　the　ditch　of　the　citadel　would　be　pumped　dry；　and　all
communication　shut　off　from　the　sea；　which　now　produces　a　stagnant　and
offensive　pool；　breeding　only　reeds；　mosquitoes；　and　malaria。

We　now　arrive　at　the　most　formidable　origin　of　the　Famagousta　feverthe
marshes　caused　by　the　overflow　of　the　Pedias　river。　The　description　that
I　have　already　given　of　the　delta　formed　by　the　deposit　of　mud　during
inundations；　and　the　total　absence　of　any　exit　for　the　waters　by　a
natural　channel；　will　convey　to　the　minds　of　the　most　inexperienced　an
extreme　cause　of　danger。　I　can　see　only　one　practicable　method　of
surmounting　this　great　difficulty。　The　Pedias　river　must　be　conducted　to
the　sea　through　an　artificial　channel；　and　it　must　（like　the　Rhone）　be
confined　between　raised　banks　of　sufficient　height　to　prevent　any　chance
of　overflow；　and　of　a　width　arranged　to　produce　a　rapid　current；　that
will　scour　the　bed　and　carry　the　mud　to　deposit　far　beyond　the　shore。
This　work　would　be　expensive；　but；　on　the　other　hand；　the　collateral
advantages　would　be　great。　The　land；　which　is　now　almost　valueless；
owing　to　the　uncertainty　of　inundations；　would　be　rendered　fruitful；　and
by　an　arrangement　of　cattle…wheels　the　irrigation　could　always　be
ensured；　as　the　water　exists　within　five　feet　of　the　present　surface。　At
this　moment；　neither　drains　are　made；　nor　any　control　of　nature　is
exercised　by　the　fever…stricken　population；　who　trust　entirely　to　the
uncertain　chances　of　the　seasons。　We　have　an　example　in　the　original
fens　of　Lincolnshire；　which；　by　a　system　of　drainage；　have　been　brought
into　agricultural　value；　a　series　of　large　and　deep　open　ditches；　such
as　are　seen　in　every　marsh　or　river…meadow　throughout　England；　would
not　only　drain　the　surface　of　the　Famagousta　delta；　but　would　supply　the
water；　to　be　raised　by　cattle…lifts　and　wind…pumps；　for　the　purposes　of
irrigation。　There　is　much　work　for　the　agricultural　engineer；　but　if
this　important　enterprise　is　seriously　commenced　the　future　results　will
well　repay　the　outlay。

Some　persons　ha