cyprus, as i saw it in 1879-第61部分

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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　vassalage。　There　must　be　no　question　of
supremacy；　water　must　serve　mankind。

Many　years　ago　I　published；　in　the　Nile　Tributaries　of　Abyssinia；　my
ideas　for　the　control　of　the　Nile　and　the　submersion　of　the　cataracts　by
a　series　of　weirs；　with　water…gates　for　the　facility　of　navigation；
which　with　certain　modifications　will　some　day　assuredly　be　carried　out；
and　will　render　Egypt　the　most　favoured　country　of　the　world；　as
absolute　mistress　of　the　river　which　is　now　at　the　same　time　a　tyrant
and　a　slave。　The　Pedias　of　Cyprus　may　during　some　terrific　rainfall
assume　proportions　that　would　convey　a　most　erroneous　impression　to　the
mind　of　a　stranger；　who；　upon　regarding　the　boiling　torrent
overspreading　a　valley　of　some　miles　in　width　in　its　impetuous　course
towards　ancient　Salamis；　might　conclude　that　it　was　a　river　of　the　first
importance。　The　fact　is　that　no　RIVER　exists　in　Cyprus：　what　should　be
rivers　are　mere　channels；　watercourses；　brooks；　torrents；　or　any　of　the
multifarious　names　for　stream…beds　that　may　be　discovered　in　an　English
dictionary。　At　the　same　time　that　the　natural　channels　are　dry　during
the　summer　months；　through　the　want　of　power　in　the　water…head　to
overcome　the　absorption　of　the　porous　soil　throughout　its　course；　it
must　not　be　forgotten　that　a　certain　supply　exists　at　the　fountain　head；
within　practicable　distance；　which　might　be　stored　and　led　from　the
mountains　to　the　lower　lands　for　the　purposes　of　irrigation。　When　we
reflect　that　in　the　proverbially　wet　climate　of　England　there　is　a
considerable　difficulty　in　assuring　a　supply　of　wholesome　water；　and
that　the　various　water　companies　have　made　enormous　profits；　it　is　not
surprising　that　in　a　neglected　island　like　Cyprus　there　should　be
distress　in　the　absence　of　abundant　rain。　The　uninitiated　in　England
seldom　appreciate　the　labour　and　expenditure　that　has　supplied　the
response　to　the　simple　turning　of　a　tap　within　an　ordinary　house。　If
they　would　follow　the　artificial　stream　from　the　small　leaden　pipe　to
the　distant　reservoir；　they　would　discover　that　a　glen　or　valley　has
been　walled　in　by　a　stupendous　dam；　which　imprisons　a　hill…rivulet
before　it　can　have　descended　to　the　impurities　of　habitations；　and　that
the　pressure　of　waters　thus　stored　at　an　elevated　level　forces　a　supply
to　a　town　at　a　distance　of　many　miles。　This　same　principle　might　be
adopted　in　numerous　localities　among　the　mountains　of　Cyprus；　where　the
streams　are　perennial；　but　are　now　exhausted　by　the　absorption　of　the
sandy　beds　before　they　have　time　to　reach　the　villages　in　the　lower
lands。　Iron　pipes　might　be　laid　to　convey　a　water…supply　to　certain
districts；　upon　which　a　rate　would　be　levied　per　acre　and　the　crops
would　be　ensured。

The　government　at　the　present　moment　obtains　a　revenue　in　kind；　or　in　a
money　valuation　of　the　corn　taken　at　the　threshing…floor；　thus　in　the
absence　of　a　crop　through　drought；　or　other　accident；　the　revenue
suffers　directly　together　with　the　owner：　no　crop；　no　revenue。　The　main
strength　of　a　country　lies　in　an　annual　income　free　from　serious
fluctuations；　and　the　extreme　instability　of　Cyprus　is　the　result　of　the
peculiar　uncertainty　of　seasons　which　is　a　special　feature　in　its
meteorological　condition。　It　is　therefore　incumbent　upon　the　government；
as　an　act　of　self…preservation；　to　take　such　measures　of　precaution　as
will　render　certain　the　supply　of　water；　which　is　all　that　is　required
to　ensure　the　average　produce　of　the　soil；　and　thereby　to　sustain　the
revenue。

I　do　not　indulge　in　engineering　details；　but；　from　the　experience　I　have
gained　by　a　personal　examination　of　the　localities；　I　am　convinced　that
no　difficulty　whatever　exists　that　would　not　be　overcome　with　a　very
moderate　outlay。　The　mountains　are　admirably　situated；　with　a　watershed
upon　all　sides；　thus　offering　the　greatest　facilities　for　reservoirs　and
pipes　that　would　radiate　in　every　direction。　This　subject　will　demand　a
careful　inquiry　by　hydraulic　engineers；　as　it　is　a　special　branch　of　the
profession　that　requires　wide　experience；　and　large　sums　may　be
fruitlessly　expended　through　ignorance；　where　a　trifling　amount　well
administered　might　achieve　great　results。

One　of　the　first　necessary　steps　in　an　examination　of　the　subterranean
water…supply　of　Cyprus　will　be　〃borings〃　that　will　test　the　existence
of　artesian　springs。　There　are　in　many　portions　of　the　island　extensive
plateaux　at　high　altitudes　that　would　absorb　a　considerable　rainfall；　in
addition　to　a　large　superficial　area　of　mountains　and　hills　that　would
exert　the　requisite　pressure　to　force　the　water　above　the　surface　of　a
lower　level　upon　boring；　should　it　now　lie　beneath　some　impervious
stratum。　Boring　will　alone　solve　this　question。　Should　artesian　wells　be
practicable　in　certain　localities；　an　immense　blessing　will　be　conferred
upon　the　island。

In　the　meantime　the　native　method　already　described；　of　connecting
chains　of　wells　from　different　springs　converging　to　a　main　channel　or
subterranean　tunnel；　is　an　original　form　of　Cyprian　engineering
thoroughly　understood　by　the　population；　which　should　be　strenuously
encouraged。　It　is　a　common　fault　among　English　people　to　ignore　the
value　of　native　methods；　and　to　substitute　some　costly　machinery　which
requires　skilled　labour　and　expense　in　working；　this　must　in　time　get
out　of　order　and　necessitate　delay　and　extra　outlay　in　repairs；
generally　at　a　period　when　the　machine　is　most　required。

It　is　a　curious　fact　that　the　shadoof　or　lever　and　bucket　worked　by
hand；　which　is　so　generally　used　throughout　Egypt；　is　unknown　in　Cyprus；
where　in　many　localities　it　would　be　easily　worked　when　water　is　within
five　to　eight　feet　of　the　surface。　This　arrangement　only　requires　a　pole
of　about　twenty　feet　in　length　supported　upon　an　upright　post；　so　as　to
play　like　a　pump…handle　by　the　balance　of　a　weight　attached　to　one　end
to　counterbalance　the　pail　of　water　suspended　to　a　long　stick　and　short
rope　at　the　other　extremity。　In　Egypt　the　weight　at　the　short　end　is
merely　a　mass　of　clay　tempered　with　chopped　straw　beaten　together　to
represent　about　150　lbs。　or　whatever　may　be　required；　this　adheres；　and
forms　a　knob　to　the　end　of　the　lever。

A　man　holds　the　long　thin　stick　suspended　at　the　other　extremity　to
which　the　bucket　is　attached；　and　pulls　it　down　hand　over　hand　until　the
utensil　is　immersed　in　the　water；　when　full；　it　is　so　nearly
counterbalanced　by　the　weight　at　the　end　of　the　lever　that　a　very　slight
exertion　raises　it　to　the　desired　level；　where　it　is　emptied　into　a
receiver。　Many　years　ago；　when　at　Gondokoro；　I　arranged　a　double　shadoof
of　parallel　levers　and　two　galvanised　iron　buckets　of　four　gallons　each；
worked　by　two　men。　I　timed　the　labour　of　this　simple　machine；　and　proved
that　the　two　men　delivered　3600　gallons　within　an　hour。　The　men　exerted
themselves　to　a　degree　that　could　not　have　been　continued　throughout　the
day；　and　the　buckets；　of　English　make；　were　far　more　capacious　than　the
simple　leather　stretched　upon　a　hoop　of　sticks　that　is　used　in　Egypt；
but　there　is　no　reason　for　such　infe