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Venetian city。 Should the harbour works be commenced； all this now
useless and dangerous material will be available for constructing the
blocks of concrete required for the sea…wall； and the surface of the
town will be entirely freed from the present nuisance without additional
expense。 The few modern buildings should be compulsorily purchased by
the Government； and entirely swept away； so that the area inclosed by
the fortification walls should represent a perfectly clean succession of
levels in the form of broad terraces； which would drain uniformly
towards the sea。 Upon these purified and well…drained plateaux the new
town could be erected； upon a special plan suitable to the locality； and
in harmony with the military requirements of a fortified position。 The
value of the land thus recovered from the existing ruin would be
considerable； and； if let on building leases； would repay the expense of
levelling； draining； and arranging for occupation。 In this manner one of
the prime causes of the present unhealthiness would be removed； by the
same operation； the ditch of the citadel would be pumped dry； and all
communication shut off from the sea； which now produces a stagnant and
offensive pool； breeding only reeds； mosquitoes； and malaria。
We now arrive at the most formidable origin of the Famagousta feverthe
marshes caused by the overflow of the Pedias river。 The description that
I have already given of the delta formed by the deposit of mud during
inundations； and the total absence of any exit for the waters by a
natural channel； will convey to the minds of the most inexperienced an
extreme cause of danger。 I can see only one practicable method of
surmounting this great difficulty。 The Pedias river must be conducted to
the sea through an artificial channel； and it must （like the Rhone） be
confined between raised banks of sufficient height to prevent any chance
of overflow； and of a width arranged to produce a rapid current； that
will scour the bed and carry the mud to deposit far beyond the shore。
This work would be expensive； but； on the other hand； the collateral
advantages would be great。 The land； which is now almost valueless；
owing to the uncertainty of inundations； would be rendered fruitful； and
by an arrangement of cattle…wheels the irrigation could always be
ensured； as the water exists within five feet of the present surface。 At
this moment； neither drains are made； nor any control of nature is
exercised by the fever…stricken population； who trust entirely to the
uncertain chances of the seasons。 We have an example in the original
fens of Lincolnshire； which； by a system of drainage； have been brought
into agricultural value； a series of large and deep open ditches； such
as are seen in every marsh or river…meadow throughout England； would
not only drain the surface of the Famagousta delta； but would supply the
water； to be raised by cattle…lifts and wind…pumps； for the purposes of
irrigation。 There is much work for the agricultural engineer； but if
this important enterprise is seriously commenced the future results will
well repay the outlay。
Some persons have attributed the cause of unhealthiness to the existence
of the trenches made by the Turks during the siege in 1571； which are
considered to emit malarious exhalations。 I do not think so； all these
low levels； surrounded by high banks which protect the crops from wind；
are most carefully cultivated with beans； cereals； cotton； and garden
produce； and I do not believe that successful gardens are malarious； but
only those localities where water is allowed to become stagnant； in
which case cultivation must be a failure。 Many of these rich bottoms
were at one time valuable as 〃madder〃 grounds； and Consul White states
that in 1863 good madder…root land at Famagousta was worth 90 pounds per
acre。 It may not be generally known that the indelible dye called
〃Turkey red〃 was formerly produced from the madder…root； but that it has
been entirely superseded by the chemical invention known as 〃alizarine；〃
which； by reducing the price in a ruinous degree； has driven the
vegetable substance out of the market； and the madder is no longer
cultivated。 This chemical discovery has lowered the rich； deep； sandy
loams of Famagousta and of Morphu to a mere average agricultural value；
and has completely destroyed an important local industry。
The madder…root required three years before it arrived at maturity。 From
Consul Riddell's report in 1872； the amount of madder exported reached
330 tons； of which 250 tons were shipped for Great Britain。 The same
authority reports in 1873； 〃The falling…off； however； in the quantity
sent to Great Britain is remarkable； being only 230 cwts。 （11。5 tons）。〃
This disappearance of a special agricultural industry has been an
enormous loss to the proprietors of the madder…lands。
The fruit…orchards and gardens of Famagousta are the finest in the
island。 The land is extremely rich； and of a bright chocolate colour；
but the trees are； as usual in Cyprus； planted too close to each other；
which interferes with the necessary light and circulation of air。 These
gardens commence just outside the walls； and； running parallel with the
sea below the large village of Varoschia； extend for about two miles
along the shore。 Oranges； lemons； pomegranates； apricots； figs； prickly
pears and mulberry…trees； are the chief products； and it was here that
we obtained the largest and best oranges that I had tasted in the
island； generally this fruit is much inferior to the varieties imported
into England。 The pomegranates of Cyprus are very celebrated； and are
exported to Egypt； but it is a fruit that is not generally appreciated
by Europeans。 There are extensive gardens inland； but they do not convey
the idea of 〃gardens〃 as understood by Englishmen； but are merely dense
groves of various fruit…trees； irrigated by a cattle…wheel； and planted
with an utter disregard of all taste or arrangement。
The large village； or town of Varoschia is an important adjunct to
Famagousta； from which it is hardly separated。 It was originally founded
by the Venetian Christians； who were expelled from Famagousta after the
Turkish conquest。 There is a large Greek Church； extensive bazaars； and
several manufactures of pottery； for which the locality is celebrated。
We saw a vessel loading in the harbour entirely with thesejars；
water…bottles； dishes； &c。but the earthen…ware is of a coarse
description； and the quality of the clay does not admit of sufficient
porosity for the purpose of cooling water or of filtering； like the
Egyptian ware； at the same time it is not sufficiently impervious for
the retention of wine or oil without a considerable loss by absorption。
Varoschia has been always celebrated for a large production of a high
quality of silk； but the quantity has fallen off； as in all other parts
of the island。 There are some good houses in this thriving and busy
little town； and it is said that decent accommodation may be had； but I
preferred the cleanliness and independence of our own tent。
Varoschia is not much healthier than Famagousta； as it suffers from the
same cause； in addition t