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the error in our Convention with the Porte by which we have agreed to
the surplus revenue exhibited by the Turkish system of accounts in an
average of five years。 The Baffo estimates show a surplus of 9232L。 upon
the financial year； but there is the forced neglect of all necessary
improvements owing to the terms of our occupation； which rob the country
of about 100；000L。 annually。 According to the figures of the Baffo
forecast of revenue and expenditure； Cyprus can afford to pay the amount
of rental to the Porte； but this is to the detriment of all public
works； which will render material progress impossible； at the same time
that the incubus of Turkish taxation will be permanent。
JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION。
By an Order in Council on 14 September； 1878； powers were given for the
administration of Cyprus by a High Commissioner appointed by Her
Majesty； together with a Legislative Council constituted according to
Clause VI。 ：…
〃The Legislative Council for the said island shall consist of the High
Commissioner for the time being； and of such other public officers and
persons within the same； not being less than four or more than eight in
number； as shall be named or designated for that purpose by her
Majesty。〃
In Clause XXI。 ：…
〃The High Commissioner may constitute and appoint all such Judges；
Justices of the Peace； and other necessary officers in the said island
as may lawfully be appointed by her Majesty； all of whom shall hold
their offices during her Majesty's pleasure。〃
It was agreed with the Porte ：…
〃I。 That a Mussulman religious tribunal （Mehkemei Sheri） shall continue
to exist in the island； which will take exclusive cognizance of
religious matters； and of no others； concerning the Mussulman population
of the island。
〃II。 That a Mussulman resident in the island shall be named by the Board
of Pious Foundations in Turkey （Evkaf） to superintend； in conjunction
with a delegate to be appointed by the British authorities； the
administration of the property； funds； and lands belonging to mosques；
cemeteries； Mussulman schools； and other religious establishments
existing in Cyprus。〃
The Turkish law courts were preserved in their original construction
under the supervision of the Commissioners of the six districts：
Lefkosia； Larnaca； Famagousta； Baffo； Limasol； Kyrenia。 These courts are
the Idari and Daavi； the Temiz or supreme court sitting in Lefkosia。 The
Idari and Daavi courts exist independently in each district。 The Cadi is
judge in the Idari； which is composed of three Mussulmans and two
Christians elected by the population； and this court is specially
presided over by the British Commissioner； and all cases in detail are
translated and entered in the register。 The Daavi Medjlis or court
consists of five membersthe Cadi； two Mussulmans； and two Christians。
An appeal from the decisions of these courts can be made to the High
Court of Temiz at Lefkosia； the decision of which is final； only subject
to the influence of Clauses XXII。 and XXIII。 in powers granted to the
High Commissioner by Order in Council of 14 September； 1878 ：…
〃XXII。 The Highmissioner may； as he shall see occasion； in her
Majesty's name and on her behalf； grant to any offender convicted of any
crime； in any court； or before any Judge； Justice； or Magistrate within
the said island； a free and unconditional pardon； or a pardon subject to
such conditions as may at any time be awfully thereunto annexed； or any
respite of the execution of the sentence of any such offender for such
period as to him may seem fit。〃
〃XXIII。 The High Commissioner may； as he shall see occasion； in her
Majesty's name and on her behalf； remit any fines； penalties； or
forfeitures which may accrue or become payable to her； provided the same
do not exceed the sum of fifty pounds sterling in any one case； and may
suspend the payment of any such fine； penalty； or forfeiture exceeding
the sum of fifty pounds until her Majesty's pleasure thereon shall be
made known and signified to him。〃
MIGRATORY BIRDS。
The birds of passage that visit Cyprus （excepting swallows）； exhibit a
peculiarity in their insignificant numbers compared with their
migrations upon the mainlands of Asia； Southern Europe； and Africa。 The
bustards that are so common in Turkey and Asia Minor are seldom seen。
The grey crane frequently passes over Cyprus without resting upon its
long flight； and in the month of March its loud cry may be heard so far
in the blue sky that it is difficult to distinguish the flocks of these
large birds at the stupendous height of their airy road towards the
north。 Even should the cranes condescend to rest for a short interval
during an unfavourable wind； they leave on the first opportunity。 I have
frequently heard them high in air travelling throughout the nightthus
during night and day they have been sailing northwards to make the most
of fair wind and weather。
The sand…grouse is to be seen occasionally on the plains of Messaria；
but never in the quantities that are met with in other neighbouring
countries。 Woodcocks are scarce； and those which are shot must have
halted in the island during their passage en route for other shores。
Snipe are very numerous in the marshes of Limasol salt lakes； Morphu；
Famagousta； Kuklia； and Larnaca。 Quails are never plentiful； and are
inferior in condition to those of Egypt and Southern Europe。 Wild ducks
are to be seen on the lake near Famagousta and at Limasol。 The
wood…pigeons； and doves； together with fly…catchers； arrive in April；
but never in large numbers。
Return of Villages； Population； etc。； of Famagousta District。
Villages Churches Mosques Turks Christians Total
Naleieh of Famasousta 9* 20 6 685 3；978 4；663
〃 Carpas 36 46 13 3；470 7；168 10；638
〃 Messaria 68 66 29 4；861 12；434 17；295
113 132 48 9；016 23；580 32；596
* Includes Famagousta town。
Piastres L s。 d。
The taxes for the year 1878 amounted to 1；370；221 = 11；418 10 4
（This being paid in Coime at a very
variable rate； it is scarcely correct
to reduce the amounts to sterling。）
The tithes of this district were farmed
out in 1878 for 。。。 。。。 。。。 25；000 0 0
Revenue therefore was 36；418 10 4
The taxes for the year 1879 amount to。。。 10；379 90
This does not include indirect taxes such as
Customs； say。。。 1；000 00
11；379 90
It is impossible to calculate the tithes yet for this year （1879）。 From
Famagousta the chief exports are corn； from Messaria； donkeys； fruit；
and pottery； the two latter chiefly from Varoshia。
Cyprus： Trooditissa Monastery；
4400 feet above the sea
21 September； 1879。
Messrs。 Macmillan & Co。
MY DEAR SIRS；
If I am in time to secure the last efforts of the printer perhaps this
letter in its integrity may convey the information which the autumnal
season has aff