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the gradations of their levels。 This water had become a right； and the
value of all lands thus irrigated had been appraised in proportion。
According to their story； some years ago a Greek who commanded capital
purchased an estate at Kolossi； and having made a journey to
Constantinople； where he remained for some years； he took the
opportunity of bribing some high officials to obtain for him an irade
from the Sultan； giving him the entire right to the water…supply； which
had for so great a length of time been the acknowledged property of the
neighbouring landholders。 This irade was issued upon the plea that all
natural waters （i。e。 streams） belong to the Sultan。 A wide field for
litigation was thus opened； and the Greek； having more than the usual
allowance of 〃the wisdom of the serpent；〃 lost no time in investing
large sums in the corruption of all those who would be summoned as local
witnesses whenever the case should be brought before the ordinary
tribunals。 The result was that after great expense in the costs of
litigation； an appeal to the superior court during the British
administration had been favourable to the plaintiffs； and the Greek
proprietor was held to be legally in possession of all water…rights； to
the exclusion of the original owners。 He； however offered to supply them
with water for their farms at a fixed rate； whereas they had hitherto
enjoyed that free right for upwards of a century。 This loss； or
abstraction； of so important a supply； upon which the actual existence
of the farms depended in seasons of drought； not only impoverished the
cultivators during the present year of famine； but reduced the value of
their land to an enormous extent； as farms with a water…supply are worth
more than quadruple the price of those which are dependent upon the
seasons。 Of course I could not help the poor people； it appeared to my
uneducated sense of equity to be the maximum of injustice。 The question
hung upon the Sultan's right to the natural water…supply； which I
believe has been officially declared invalid； by what other right the
monopoly of the water had been conveyed away from the original
proprietors I could not understand。 The Greek was not enjoying his
victory in absolute peace of mind； as the neighbouring farmers avenged
their legal defeat by cutting holes in the embankments of his
watercourses； and thereby nightly flooding their own fields； which； as
the channels extended for many miles； would have required the presence
of more than all the police of the district to discover the offenders。
Upon one occasion upwards of forty of these people appeared mounted upon
mules around my camp； to urge my intercession on their behalf； declaring
their perfect faith in the honour and good intentions of the English
authorities； but at the same time lamenting their ignorance of the
native language； which threw the entire power into the hands of the
dragomans （interpreters）； of whose character they spoke in terms which
it is to be hoped were highly exaggerated。 The people begged me to ride
over to the locality； to see with my own eyes the position of affairs；
which I arranged to do sine die； and after advising them to exercise a
temporary patience； I got rid of the deputation without suggesting 〃that
under the existing agrarian dispute they should let their farms to some
enterprising Irish tenants from Tipperary。〃
I mention this incident； which is one of many others upon the same
subject； to exhibit the complications that have always arisen from the
contention upon water…rights； that will require some special
legislation。 。 。 。
The weather was becoming warm at Limasol； the thermometer ranging from
70 degrees at 7 A。M。 to 83 degrees at 3 P。M。 There was a trouble in the
water…supply； as that for drinking purposes had to be conveyed by
donkeys from a distance of three or four miles。 The market in the town；
although well arranged externally； was governed by peculiarly
restrictive municipal regulations； the price of meat and several other
articles being fixed at a common standard！ According to this absurd rule
inferior mutton would fetch an equal price with the best quality： the
natural consequence ensued； that only inferior meat was introduced； to
the exclusion of all other。 The supply of fish was extremely irregular；
and they were generally small and dear。 Upon some occasions we purchased
good red mullet； also a larger fish of the bass species； but there were
only a few fishermen； who required an opposition to induce activity and
moderate prices。 Their nets were made of exceedingly fine twine； and the
smallness of the mesh denoted a scarcity of the larger species of fish。
A number of Maltese settlers were arriving； to whom lands had been
granted by the government in the neighbourhood of Limasol； this
excellent arrangement will have the effect of infusing a new spirit
among the people by the introduction of fresh blood； and the well…known
fishermen of Malta will of themselves be a boon to the large towns；
where a regular demand may be depended upon at a reasonable price。
There was nothing to induce a longer stay at Limasol； and I resolved
upon Trooditissa monastery as the position for a mountain residence
during the summer months。 Upon Kiepert's map； which is the best I have
seen of Cyprus； this point was placed among the angles in the various
crests and ridges of the Troodos mountain； and was marked by measurement
as 4340 feet above the sea…level。 The new government road extended from
Limasol to Platraes； from which a good mule…path led to the camp
prepared for the 20th Regiment and the Royal Engineers at an altitude of
5740 feet。 It appeared to me that in north latitude 35 degrees this was
an unnecessary elevation。 My old residence at Newera Ellia in Ceylon was
6210 feet above the sea in north latitude 6 degrees 30'； and in that low
latitude we had sharp frosts at night。 Any heights approaching 6000 feet
in north latitude 35 degrees would； I imagined； become disagreeably
chilly in the morning and evening； at seasons when in the low country
the heat would still be too oppressive for a return from the mountain
sanatorium。
The mean temperature at Limasol from 1st May to 18th had been at 7 A。M。
65 degrees； at 3 P。M。 78。6 degrees； during which interval there had been
sudden variations of temperature； ranging from a minimum of 56 degrees
to 84 degrees。 On the 11th May； having engaged twenty…three mules for
our tents； baggage； and party； we started from Limasol for Trooditissa。
The dog Merry； that had been bitten by the snake； had lain for days in a
state of stupor； black and swollen； I had poured quantities of olive…oil
down his throat； as he could not eat； and at length I gave him a dose of
two grains of calomel； with three grains of emetic tartar。 After this he
slowly recovered； the ear that was bitten mortified； and was cut off；
but the dog was sufficiently restored to accompany us upon the march；
together with his companion Wise。 We were now about to enter the great
vine…growing district of Cyprus； which produces the large exportations
that form the chief industry of Limasol。
At a distance of a mile from our camp we enter