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constitutes the offence。 Sheep…stealing is the prevalent crime； and is
carried on with an amount of hardihood that can only be accounted for
from the difficulty of proof。 The flocks of goats； &c。； roam over the
wild and uninhabited area of the high mountains and frequently stray
from the shepherd and are lost for two or three nights； by the time they
are recovered a certain number may be missing； and it is hardly possible
to discover the thief； as the animals have been driven to a great
distance。 Tracking would be out of the question over the rocky surface；
where every small plot of naked soil is trodden into countless footmarks
by the innumerable goats which browse upon the mountain slopes。 At night
the flocks are generally herded within a circle protected by a fence of
thorny bushes； sometimes these folds are invaded by thieves during the
darkness； and a considerable number are driven off。 As the locality
would be generally distant from the principal town； and the shepherd
cannot forsake his flock for several days to prosecute； the thieves
frequently escape； and this immunity encourages them to further
depredations。 During my residence within the precincts of the monastery；
the fold upon the hill within a quarter of a mile of the establishment
was thus robbed； and the thieves were never discovered。
The police or zaphtiehs are generally too far from these wild localities
to be of any service； and they are at present too few for the proper
supervision of the island。 A plan is I believe in contemplation to
extend this body upon a scale that will render the force efficient as a
gendarmerie； which would to a considerable degree relieve the necessity
for a permanent European military force。 There can be no better soldier
than the Turk under British officers。 The Christians in Cyprus have an
objection to this service； and there is no reason why a military force
to combine the duties of police should not be organised； that would be
thoroughly acclimatised； and would at the same time be maintained for
less than half the expense of English troops。 There is nothing to fear
from the Turkish population in Cyprus； and they would willingly enlist
in our service； and could always be depended upon in case of necessity。
The force already organised is an admirable nucleus； and could be
rapidly increased； each man finds his own horse and receives two
shillings a day inclusive； his clothes and arms being provided by the
government。 For service in the trying climate of Cyprus the Turk is
pre…eminent。 I do not see any need for the presence of British troops in
this island。 The fortresses are all dismantled； the natives are
peaceful； and the extremely low price of wine and spirits is terribly
adverse to the sanitary condition of the English soldier。 The staunch
sobriety of the Turk； his extreme hardihood； which enables him to endure
great fatigue upon the most simple fare； and his amenity to discipline；
together with an instinctive knowledge of arms and a natural capacity
for a military profession； render him a valuable material for our
requirements in organising a defensive force in Cyprus。 Should it be
determined that a certain number of British troops shall be retained；
they can be spared unnecessary exposure； and retire to the mountain
sanatorium during the summer months。
The wages of both artisans and ordinary labourers have risen
considerably since the British occupation； as might have been expected。
Skilled masons and carpenters can now command from 3 shillings 6 pence
to 5 shillings per diem； who formerly could earn a maximum of 3
shillings。 Ordinary masons for building walls can even now be obtained
for 2 shillings 6 pence and 3 shillings； and agricultural labourers
receive 1 shilling。 It is probable that should extensive government
improvements be undertaken； or large contracts be made by private
individuals for public works； the rate will rise from one shilling to
eighteen pence； as the demand for labour shall increase。 Should schools
be established and education become general throughout the island； the
result will probably be exhibited by a corresponding advance in wages；
as individuals will estimate their value at a higher rate。 At present
there is no organised system of education for the peasantry； and the few
schools are confined to Nicosia； Larnaca； Limasol； Baffo； and Morphu；
all of which are supported by original grants； voluntary contributions；
the payments of pupils； and by certain sums annually provided by the
bishops and monasteries。
The rate of wages should in all countries bear a just proportion to the
price of food； and should the habits of the Cypriotes remain unchanged；
and their diet retain its simple character； there is no reason to
anticipate a rate that would eventually exceed 10 shillings or 11
shillings a week。 If we determine upon low wages； we must keep down the
price of food。 The Turkish administration had peculiar municipal laws
upon this subject which are still in force in some localities； but have
been abrogated in Limasol。 I have already mentioned that the price of
meat was fixed at a certain sum per oke； so that good and bad sold at
the same figure； and resulted in the inferior qualities being sent to
market； while the best never appeared。 Fish； fruits； and vegetables were
rated in the same manner； and the municipal authorities ruled； and fixed
a standard price for everything； good and bad all shared alike。 By this
extraordinary legislation； which to the English mind is inconceivable；
the finest cauliflowers and the most common varieties would sell exactly
at the same price； no matter what the quality of vegetables might be；
all were reduced to the same level。 Fish was simply fish。 The best
varieties and the most inferior were included in the same despotic law。
Salmon and stickleback； turbot and sprat； herrings and soles； would （had
they existed） have been sold at so much a pound independent of their
qualities。 The result was that if your servant went to market to buy a
fine species of fish； the seller insisted upon his taking a due
proportion of inferior trash that was hardly eatable。 〃All was fish that
came to the net；〃 little and big； good and bad； fetched the same price。
Such a system would ensure the worst of everything； what gardener would
devote his energies to producing fine varieties； if a common field
cabbage would rival his choicest specimens at the same price； but at a
minimum of labour？
It was evident that the lowest class of vegetables would represent the
garden produce； as this absurd rule was a premium for indolence； whereas
free competition； that would have assured high prices to the best
qualities； would have stimulated the cultivators in their productions。
This argument was so indisputable that the chief commissioner （Colonel
Warren； R。A。） determined at all hazards to introduce free markets into
Limasol； and although opposed to the conservative ideas of his municipal
council； he carried out his views of a healthy competition and free and
unrestricted trade； which would awaken the Cypriotes to the fact that
labour properly directed would ensure the best qualities； that would
benefi