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FROM LIMASOL TO THE MOUNTAINS。
The barley harvest was in active operation； and the fields around our
camp were crowded with men； women； and children； all hard at work； but
producing small results compared with an equal expenditure of European
labour。 Their sickles were large and good； but a great proportion of the
crops were either broken off by hand or were dragged out by the roots；
and the earth that adhered was carelessly dusted off by a blow against
the reaper's boots。 In this dry climate there was no necessity for
piling the sheaves； but the small bundles were at once laden upon
donkeys and also conveyed in the two…wheeled carts to the threshing…
ground； upon which it would remain until valued for taxation by the
government official。 In the dry atmosphere of Cyprus； Syria； Egypt； &c。；
the straw breaks easily； and beneath the sharp flints of the ancient
threshing…harrow in present use is quickly reduced to the coarse chaff
known as 〃tibbin；〃 which forms the staple article of food for horses and
all cattle。 Taking advantage of the numbers of people congregated in the
fields； some itinerant gipsies with a monkey and performing bears were
camped beneath the caroub…trees； about half a mile from our position。
The bears were the Syrian variety。 Throughout Cyprus the gipsies are
known as tinners of pots and makers of wooden spoons； which seems to be
the normal occupation of their tribe throughout the world； they have
also a character for a peculiar attachment to fowls and any other small
matters that belong to private individuals which may be met with during
their wanderings。
The beans of the caroub…trees were already large； and promised a good
crop in spite of the dry weather。 The roots of these evergreens
penetrate to a great depth； and obtain nourishment from beneath when the
surface soil is perished by drought。 I have never seen a caroub
overthrown by the wind； although the extremely large head that is at all
seasons covered with leaves must offer a great resistance。 The fruit of
this tree （Ceratonia siliqua） is already an important export from
Cyprus； and if the cultivation is encouraged there can be no doubt of an
enormous extension of the trade。 The tree is indigenous to the island；
but in its wild state is unproductive； it simply requires grafting to
ensure a crop。 The wild young trees are generally transplanted into the
desired positions； and then grafted from the cultivated species； but
there is no reason why they should not be grafted in situ。 The olives；
which are also indigenous； might be treated in a similar manner to
render the crown…lands productive； which are now mere jungles of shrubs
and trees in their natural state。 I shall reserve further remarks upon
this subject for a chapter specially devoted to 〃Woods and Forests。〃
The caroub at present commands an extensive market。 The fruit is usually
known commercially as the 〃locust…bean；〃 the taste is a compound of
treacle and Spanish liquorice； and would generally be appreciated by
children； monkeys； pigs； and cattle。 The Cassia fistula of Ceylon
resembles it somewhat in flavour； but the Ceratonia siliqua is free from
the medicinal properties of the former tree。 Since the government
monopoly was abolished in 1827 the trade has received an impetus； and
this extension due to freedom is an example to our present government in
their relations to the oppressive system connected with the wine trade。
According to the consular reports the crop of 1872 was about 10；000
tons； which sold free on board at 4 pounds 10 shillings per ton。 At that
time the chief purchaser was Russia； and the locust…beans were exported
to various positions upon the Black Sea。 In 1875 England became a large
consumer； and I believe the well…known 〃Thorley's Patent Food for
Cattle〃 contains a considerable amount of this nutritive substance。 The
influence upon the market of a demand from England raised the exports in
1875 to 18；000 tons。 A fluctuation took place in 1876； and although the
crop was deficient； the prices fell to 2 pounds 13 shillings 6 pence per
ton free on board。 This reaction was probably due to the large stocks on
hand in England； purchased at a high rate； from 4 pounds 10 shillings to
5 pounds per ton； which had driven Russian competition out of the
market； therefore the 1876 gathering found but few purchasers。 In 1877
the yield was 13；500 tons； and the price rose from 2 pounds 13 shillings
6 pence to 3 pounds 5 shillings and at length to 4 pounds per ton； free
on board。
The average produce of a tree； taking the mean of all sizes； would be
about 84 lbs。 or three…quarters of a hundredweight； allowing the mean
crop of five years to be 13；000 tons； this would give the number of
productive trees in Cyprus as 346；666； or in round numbers 350；000；
which； at eight trees to the acre = 43；750 acres of caroub…trees。 I do
not think as a rule that a larger number than eight trees are to be
found upon an acre； as it is the custom to cultivate cereals upon the
same ground； therefore the caroubs are thinly planted。 This calculation
cannot be accepted as exhibiting the actual position of the trees； as a
very large proportion are not planted in order； but grow independently
and promiscuously； and are productive simply as originally wild trees
that have been grafted。 Should Cyprus belong bona…fide to England；
machinery for crushing and pressing the locust…beans will be established
on the spot； which； by compressing the bulk； will reduce the freight and
materially lessen the price when delivered in England。 In travelling
through Cyprus nothing strikes the observation of the traveller more
forcibly than the neglect of tree…planting。 The caroub is an indigenous
production volunteering its services to man； and producing an important
revenue； there are immense tracts of land which by their rocky nature
are unfit for the general purposes of husbandry； at the same time the
rich soil in the interstices is eminently adapted for the cultivation of
the caroub。 Such lands are at the present moment abandoned to a growth
of jungle； among which this irrepressible tree dominates all other
vegetation； but in its wild state remains unproductive。 The
neighbourhood of Limasol is for many miles richly ornamented by these
welcome shade…producers； and presents an example of what other portions
of the island might become。
During my stay at Limasol I was several times invaded by a crowd of
people from a neighbouring village； with complaints upon an assumed
injustice connected with their water…supply。 It was in vain that I
assured them of my unofficial capacity； they were determined to have
their say； and； according to their threat； to 〃TELEGRAPH TO VICTORIA；〃
unless they could obtain redress。 I referred them to Colonel Warren；
R。A。； the chief commissioner of their district； who had already been
sufficiently perplexed with their case。 It appeared that a stream
flowing from the mountains had nearly two centuries ago been diverted
into an artificial channel by the inhabitants of Kolossi and others for
the purpose of irrigating the various lands in succession； according to
the gradations of their levels。 This water had