cyprus, as i saw it in 1879-第59部分

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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　shown；　there　is　no　difficulty　whatever　in　their
preservation　should　the　requisite　staff　of　officials　be　appointed。　It
should；　however；　be　borne　in　mind　that　the　preservation　of　woods　and
forests　is　a　simple　matter　compared　with　the　absolute　necessity　of　their
extension；　it　is　therefore　desirable　to　examine　the　capabilities　of　the
island　for　tree…culture。

When　Cyprus　was　first　occupied　by　British　troops　the　English　newspapers
were　full　of　superficial　advice　suggested　by　numerous　well…meaning
correspondents　who　were　utterly　devoid　of　practical　experience　in
tree…planting；　and　a　unanimous　verdict　was　given　in　favour　of　the
Eucalyptus　globulus；　and　other　varieties　of　the　same　tree；　irrespective
of　all　knowledge　of　localities　and　soils。

The　absence　of　money　would　be　the　only　excuse　for　any　delay　in
experimental　tree…culture。　The　seeds　of　the　eucalyptus　were　sent　out　in
considerable　quantities　to　the　various　chief　commissioners　of　districts
for　cultivation；　as　though　these　overworked　and　ill…paid　officers　were
omniscient；　and　added　the　practical　knowledge　of　horticulture　to　their
military　qualifications。　Every　commissioner　that　I　saw　had　a　few　old
wine　or　beer　cases　filled　with　earth；　in　which　he　was　endeavouring　to
produce　embryo　forests　of　the　varieties　of　eucalyptus；　to　be　planted　out
when　germinatedhow；　when；　or　where；　he　could　not　tell。　Of　course　all
these　attempts　ended　in　failure。　There　should　have　been　an　experienced
gardener　specially　appointed　for　the　purpose　of　raising　and　planting　out
the　young　trees　adapted　for　the　various　soils　and　altitudes　of　the
country；　and　such　trees　should　have　been　ready　for　their　positions　at
the　commencement　of　the　winter　months　in　November。　The　commissioners
worked　in　this　new　occupation　with　the　same　praiseworthy　energy　that
distinguished　them　throughout　all　the　trying　difficulties　of　their
appointment　as　rulers　in　a　strange　country；　where；　without　a　knowledge
of　the　language　or　customs；　they　were　suddenly　called　upon　to　confer
happiness　and　contentment　upon　an　oppressed　population　by　administering
TURKISH　laws　in　the　essence　of　their　integrity。

The　Cypriotes　had　expected　to　see　England　and　the　English　as　their
rulers；　but　like　the　well…known　saying；　〃Scratch　a　Russian　and　you
discover　the　Tartar；〃　they　might　have　〃scratched　an　Englishman　and　have
found　the　Turk；〃　in　the　actual　regime　that　we　were　bound　to　maintain
according　to　the　conditions　of　the　British　occupation。

The　native　mind　could　not　understand　the　reason　for　the　stringent　rule
prohibiting　the　cutting　of　trees　and　they　came　to　the　conclusion　that
our　government　contemplated　some　selfish　advantage；　and　that　the　forests
were　eventually　to　be　leased　to　a　company。　When　they　shall　see
tree…planting　commenced　by　the　government　upon　an　extensive　scale　they
will　believe　in　the　undertaking　as　intended　for　the　welfare　of　the
island。

Whenever　this　important　and　necessary　work　shall　be　organised；　it　is　to
be　hoped　that　〃common　sense〃　will　be　employed　in　the　selection　of　trees
adapted　for　the　various　localities；　and　that　no　absurd　experiments　will
be　made　upon　a　large　scale　by　introducing　varieties　foreign　to　the
island　until　they　shall　have　been　tested　satisfactorily　in　botanical
nurseries　established　at　various　altitudes。

There　are　various　local　difficulties　that　must　be　considered　in　addition
to　soil　and　climate；　the　most　important　is　the　presence　of　vast　numbers
of　goats　throughout　the　mountains；　that　would　utterly　destroy　certain
varieties　of　young　plants。　There　can　be　no　doubt　that　the　climate　and
soil　are　specially　adapted　for　the　introduction　of　the　common　larch；
which　would　grow　quickly　into　value　for　the　much…needed　poles　for
rafters　and　beams　for　the　flat…topped　roofs；　but　this　tree　is　eagerly
devoured　by　sheep；　goats；　and　cattle；　and　would　be　destroyed　in　its
first　stage　unless　protected　by　fencing。　It　will　be　a　safe　rule　to　adopt
the　native　trees　as　a　guide　to　future　extension；　as　the　varieties　of
such　classes　as　are　indigenous　will　assuredly　succeed。　The　two　existing
pines　are　shunned　by　goats　even　when　in　their　earliest　growth；　and　they
are　so　ineradicable　that　were　the　forests　spared　and　allowed　to　remain
without　artificial　planting；　in　ten　years　there　would　be　masses　of　young
trees　too　thick　for　the　success　of　timber。　The　rain；　when　heavy；　washes
the　fallen　cones　from　the　highest　points；　and　as　they　are　carried　by　the
surface　water　down　the　steep　inclines　they　hitch　among　the　rocks　and
take　root　in　every　favourable　locality。　Here　we　have　two　native　trees
that　will　plant　themselves　and　flourish　without　expense；　invulnerable　to
the　attacks　of　goats；　and　only　demanding　rest　and　time。　On　the　other
hand；　they　might　be　planted　at　regular　intervals　with　so　small　an　outlay
that　their　artificial　arrangement　would　be　advisable。

The　cypress　may　be　extended　in　a　similar　manner。

The　presence　of　several　varieties　of　oak　would　naturally　suggest　the
introduction　of　the　cork…tree　and　the　species　which　produces　the
valonia；　which　forms　an　important　article　of　trade