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complaints are rare； CONSUMPTION IS UNKNOWN； and pulmonary affections
are uncommon。 Fevers； including those of a typhoid character； and ague
from malaria； are the usual types； outbreaks of small…pox have been
reduced by general vaccination。 The improvement in sanitary regulations
will no doubt diminish the occurrence of typhoid fevers； which even now
are rare considering the filth of the villages and the generally dirty
habits of the population。
Hydrophobia among dogs is very rare； and distemper among puppies is
unknown。 Pigs are the general scavengers in the Cypriote villages； and
the flesh of these filthy feeders is much esteemed by the Christian
inhabitants during the winter months。 In the monasteries； which； from
their great altitude among the mountains； are occasionally snowed up and
excluded from communication； a winter supply of stores is laid up during
the autumn。 The pigs and the fattest goats are killed； and salted in a
most peculiar manner。 Without removing a bone； the animal is split from
the neck along the abdomen throughout； and it is laid completely open
like a smoked haddock。 Every joint is most carefully dislocated； even to
the shoulder…blade bones； and remains in its place。 The flesh is neatly
detached from every bone； and in this form the carcase is salted； and
stretched out in the sun to dry。 When prepared it resembles a shield； as
it remains perfectly flat； the back presenting a smooth surface； while
the inside represents a beautiful specimen of comparative anatomy； every
joint dislocated； but secured by the original integument to the socket；
and every bone cleanly detached； but undisturbed from its original
position。 The dried body looks like a surgical preparation carefully
arranged for an explanatory lecture。
The common and low quality of food of the lower classes； and especially
of the agricultural population； must induce a want of stamina which is
unable to resist the fever in malarious districts； and this results in
chronic disease of the spleen。 I have already described the general
protuberance of the abdomen among the children throughout the Messaria
and the Carpas districts； all of whom are more or less affected by
splenetic diseases。 On the mountains a marked difference is observed； as
throughout the numerous villages at high altitudes the children are as
healthy as those of England； although poorly clad in the home…made
cotton…stuffs of the country。
I have already remarked the absence of flannel or other woollen material
worn next the skin； the natives prefer their own manufactures to those
of Europe； and as they grow the cotton； which is spun and woven into
cloth by their own women； there is no actual outlay of coin。 Some of the
native material is very superior in strength to the machine…made stuffs
of Manchester； especially a blue stout cotton with a thin red line that
is in general request both for men and women。 The only woollen stuff
that is manufactured in Cyprus is confined to Nicosia； where the dark
brown and immensely thick capotes are made for the winter wear of the
common people。 A cart…driver during the halt in a winter night simply
draws the hood over his head and face； and； wrapped in his long and
impervious capote； he lays himself beneath his cart and goes to sleep。
Coarse woollen saddle…cloths and bags are also made at Nicosia。 The same
locality is celebrated for manufactures of silk and gold embroidery； all
of which is performed by the hands of women； while the printing of
calicoes and the production of morocco leather are local industries
confined to the labour of men。
No country is better adapted for silk culture than Cyprus； where the
mulberry…tree grows in great luxuriance to the altitude of 5000 feet；
and the warmth and dryness of the climate is highly favourable to the
silkworm。 There is no tax upon the mulberry； and should artificial
irrigation be encouraged by the government； this tree should be
generally planted throughout the Messaria and all other districts； and a
special impulse should be directed to silk development。 Formerly the
production of silk was an important export to France； but of late years
it has decreased to a mere bagatelle。 In the spot where I am now writing
there are numerous mulberries in a profusion of rich foliage sufficient
for the production of two pounds of silk by each tree； but they are
entirely neglected； and the same depression in the silk cultivation may
be remarked throughout the island。
The numerous wild…flowers； together with the blossoms of oranges and
lemons； are highly favourable to bees； of which there are several
varieties； but there is no export of wax； which is used within the
island for the manufacture of candles and tapers for the various
churches。 The Cyprian bee…hive is a contrivance which is extremely
simple； at the same time that it possesses the great advantage of
sparing the bees when the comb is to be saved。 I see no reason why this
primitive arrangement should not succeed in England； and thereby save
countless swarms from destruction。
The hive is an earthenware cylinder about three feet six inches or four
feet in length； by ten or twelve inches in diameter； this might be
represented by a common chimney…pot。 One end is securely stopped by a
wad of straw； neatly made in a similar manner to the back of an archery
target。 This is smeared on the outside with clay so as to exclude the
air。 A similar wad is inserted at the other extremity； but this is
provided with a small aperture or entrance for the bees。 In a large
apiary twenty or thirty of these rude pipes or cylinders are piled one
upon the other in the same manner that draining tiles are heaped in
England； and they are protected from the sun and rain by a shed； open
only to the front。 The bees learn to recognise their several hives
without confusion； although the cylinders are exactly alike and closely
packed together。
When the comb is fully developed and the honey should be secured； it is
only necessary to open a hole in the back； by removing the wad； and to
blow smoke through the aperture； the bees escape uninjured from their
ordinary entrance。 The operator； whose head and face are protected with
the necessary veil； and his hands with gloves； now cuts out the honey
required； leaving a certain quantity as food for the bees； who will
return to their hive when re…adjusted。
When a swarm is captured； the bees are placed in an earthenware cylinder
which has been rubbed in the inside with a mixture of honey and wine。
The shed is a very important portion of the apiary； as it adds
materially to the comfort of the bees by protecting them from the
extremes of weather。
Although the cold of the winter seldom attains freezing…point； it is
sufficiently uncomfortable when accompanied by rain； and all creatures
that are expected to thrive require protection。 The climate varies in
different localities； but the following meteorological data； that were
carefully registered by myself； accompanied by those kindly furnished me
by Colonel White； 1st Royal Scots； when chief commissioner of Lefkosia；
will afford a dependable basis for any medical opinion。