cyprus, as i saw it in 1879-第3节

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near　the　surface；　and　emptied　themselves　in　heavy　showers。　The　air　was
extremely　clear；　and　as　we　steamed　at　ten　knots　each　hour　brought　out　in
prominent　relief　the　mountain　peaks　of　Cyprus；　Olympus　was　capped　with
clouds。　Passing　through　a　rain…cloud　which　for　a　time　obscured　the　view；
we　at　length　emerged　into　bright　sunshine；　the　mists　had　cleared　from
the　mountain　range；　and　Troodos；　6；400　feet　above　the　sea…level；　towered
above　all　competitors。

We　were　now　about　ten　miles　from　the　shore；　and　the　general　appearance
of　the　island　suggested　a　recent　snowfall。　As　the　sun　shone　upon　a　bare
white　surface；　the　sterile　slopes　and　mountain　sides　were　utterly　devoid
of　vegetation；　and　presented　a　sad　aspect　of　desolation；　which　reminded
me　of　the　barren　range　on　the　shores　of　the　Red　Sea。

First　impressions　are　seldom　correct；　but　the　view　of　Cyprus　on　arrival
from　the　south　was　depressing；　and　extinguished　all　hopes　that　had　been
formed　concerning　our　newly…acquired　possession。　This　was　the　treasure
acquired　by　astute　diplomacy！

For　about　twenty　miles　we　skirted　this　miserable　coast；　upon　which　not　a
green　speck　relieved　the　eye；　at　length　we　sighted　the　minaret　which
marked　the　position　of　Larnaca；　the　port　or　roadstead　to　which　the　mail
was　bound；　and　in　the　town　we　distinguished　three　or　four　green　trees。
We　cast　anchor　about　half　a　mile　from　the　shore。　Nine　or　ten　vessels；
including　several　steamers；　were　in　the　roadstead；　and　a　number　of
lighters　were　employed　in　landing　cargoes。

Disappointment　and　disgust　were　quickly　banished　by　the　reflection　that
at　this　season　（January）　there　was　nothing　green　in　England：　the
thermometer　in　that　dreary　land　would　be　below　freezing…point；　while　on
the　deck　where　we　stood　it　was　64　degrees　Fahr。　We　were　quickly　in　a
boat　steering　for　the　landing…place。

All　towns　look　tolerably　well　from　the　sea；　especially　if　situated
actually　upon　the　margin　of　the　water。　The　town　represented　a　front　of
about　a　mile；　less　than　five　feet　above　the　level　of　the　sea；　bordered
by　a　masonry　quay　perpendicular　to　the　surface；　from　which　several
wooden　jetties　of　inferior　and　very　recent　construction　served　as
landing…places。

The　left　flank　of　Larnaca　was　bounded　by　a　small　Turkish　fort；
absolutely　useless　against　modern　artillery　upon　the　walls　the　British
flag　was　floating。　We　landed　upon　the　quay。　This　formed　a　street；　the
sea　upon　one　side；　faced　by　a　row　of　houses。　As　with　all　Turkish
possessions；　decay　had　stamped　the　town：　the　masonry　of　the　quay　was　in
many　places　broken　down；　the　waves　had　undermined　certain　houses；　and　in
the　holes　thus　washed　out　by　the　action　of　water　were　accumulations　of
recent　filth。　Nevertheless；　enormous　improvements　had　taken　place　since
the　English　occupation。　An　engineer　was　already　employed　in　repairing
the　quay；　and　large　blocks　of　carefully　faced　stone　（a　sedimentary
limestone　rock　of　very　recent　formation）　were　being　laid　upon　a　bed　of
concrete　to　form　a　permanent　sea…wall。　The　houses　which　lined　the　quay
were　for　the　most　part　stores；　warehouses；　and　liquor…shops。　Among　these
the　Custom　House；　the　Club；　Post　Office；　and　Chief　Commissioner's　were
prominent　as　superior　buildings。　There　was　a　peculiar　character　in　the
interior　economy　of　nearly　all　houses　in　Larnaca；　it　appeared　that　heavy
timber　must　have　been　scarce　before　the　town　was　built；　as　the　upper
floor　was　invariably　supported　by　stone　arches　of　considerable
magnitude；　which　sprang　from　the　ground…floor　level。　These　arches　were
uniform　throughout　the　town；　and　the　base　of　the　arch　was　the　actual
ground；　without　any　pillar　or　columnar　support；　so　that　in　the　absence
of　a　powerful　beam　of　timber；　the　top　of　the　one…span　arch　formed　a
support　for　the　joists　of　the　floor　above。　In　large　houses　numerous
arches　gave　an　imposing　appearance　to　the　architecture　of　the　ground
floors；　which　were　generally　used　as　warehouses。　Even　the　wooden　joists
were　imported　poles　of　fir；　thus　proving　the　scarcity　of　natural
forests。　The　roofs　of　the　houses　were　for　the　most　part　flat；　and
covered　with　tempered　clay　and　chopped　straw　for　the　thickness　of　about
ten　inches。　Some　buildings　of　greater　pretensions　were　gaudy　in　bright
red　tiles；　but　all　were　alike　in　the　general　waste　of　rain…water；　which
was　simply　allowed　to　pour　into　the　narrow　streets　through　innumerable
wooden　shoots　projecting　about　six　feet　beyond　the　eaves。　These　gutters
would　be　a　serious　obstacle　to　wheeled　conveyances；　such　as　lofty
waggons；　which　would　be　unable　in　many　cases　to　pass　beneath。　The
streets　are　paved；　but　being　devoid　of　subterranean　drains；　a　heavy
shower　would　convert　them　into　pools。　Foot　passengers　are　protected　from
such　accidents　by　a　stone　footway　about　sixteen　inches　high　upon　either
side　of　the　narrow　street。　Before　the　English　occupation　these　hollow
lanes　were　merely　heaps　of　filth；　which　caused　great　unhealthiness；　they
were　now　tolerably　clean；　but　in　most　cases　the　pavement　was　full　of
holes　that　would　have　tested　the　springs　and　wheels　of　modern　vehicles。

I　had　heard；　prior　to　leaving　England；　that　hotels；　inns；　&c。；　were
unknown　in　Larnaca；　I　was；　therefore；　agreeably　surprised　on　landing；　to
find　a　new　hotel　（Craddock's）　which　was　scrupulously　clean；　the　rooms
neatly　whitewashed；　and　everything　simple　and　in　accordance　with　the
requirements　of　the　country。

The　miserable　reports　in　England　respecting　the　want　of　accommodation；
and　the　unhealthiness　of　Cyprus；　had　determined　me　to　render　myself
independent；　I　had　therefore　arranged　a　gipsy　travelling…van　while　in
London；　which　would；　as　a　hut　upon　wheels；　enable　us　to　select　a
desirable　resting…place　in　any　portion　of　the　island；　where　the　route
should　be　practicable　for　wheeled　conveyances。　This　van　was　furnished
with　a　permanent　bed；　shelves　or　wardrobe　beneath；　a　chest　of　drawers；
table　to　fall　against　the　wall　when　not　in　use；　lockers　for　glass　and
crockery；　stove　and　chimney；　and　in　fact　it　resembled　a　ship's　cabin；
nine　feet　six　inches　long；　by　five　feet　eight　inches　wide。

I　had　another　excellent　light　four…wheeled　van　constructed　by　Messrs。
Glover　Brothers；　of　Dean　Street；　Soho：　both　these　vehicles　had　broad　and
thick　iron　tires　to　the　wheels；　which　projected　5/8　inch　upon　either
side　beyond　the　felloes；　in　order　to　afford　a　wide　surface　to　deep　soil
or　sandy　ground　without　necessitating　a　too　massive　wheel。

The　vans　with　all　my　effects　had　left　London　by　steamer　direct　for
Cyprus；　I　therefore　found　them；　upon　my　arrival　from　Egypt；　in　the
charge　of　Mr。　Z。　Z。　Williamson；　a　most　active　agent　and　perfect
polyglot；　the　latter　gift　being　an　extreme　advantage　in　this　country　of
Babel…like　confusion　of　tongues。

I　was　now　prepared　to　investigate　Cyprus　thoroughly；　and　to　form　my　own
opinion　of　its　present　and　future　value。

The　day　after　my　arrival　I　strolled　outside　the　town　and　exercised　my
three　spaniels　which　had　come　out　direct　from　England。　The　dogs　searched
for　game　which　they　did　not　find；　while　I　examined　the　general　features
of　the　country。　About　three…quarters　of　a　mile　from　the　present　town　or
port　are　the　remains　of　old　Larnaca。　This　is　a　mere　village；　but
possesses　a　large　Greek　church。　The　tomb　of　Lazarus；　who　is　believed　to
have　settled　in　Cyprus　to　avoid　persecution　after　his　miraculous
resurrection　from　the　grave；　is　to　be　seen　in　the　church　of　St。　George
within　the　principal　town。

From　this　point　an　excellent　view　is　obtained　of　the　adjacent　country。　A
plain　of　most　fertile　soil　extends　along　the　sea…coast　towards　the　east
for　six　miles；　and　in　breadth　about　four　miles。　The　present　town　of
Larnaca　stands　on　the　sea…board　of　this　plain；　which　to　the　west　of　the
port　continues　for　about　four　miles；　thus　giving　an　area　of　some　ten
miles　in　length；　forming　almost　a　half　circle　of　four　miles　in　its
semi…diameter；　the　whole　is　circumscribed　by　hills　of　low　but　increasing
altitudes；　all　utterly　barren。　Through　the　plain　are　two　unmistakable
evidences　of　river…action　which　at　some　remote　period　had　washed　down
from　the　higher　ground　the　fertile　deposit　which　has　formed　the　alluvium
of　the　valley。　Within　this　apparently　level　plain　is　a　vestige　of　a　once
higher　level；　the　borders　of　which　have　been　denuded　by　the　continual
action　of　running　water　during　the　rushes　from　the　mountains　in　the
rainy　season。　This　water　action　has　long　ceased　to　exist。　There　can　be
little　doubt　that　in　the　ancient　days　of　forest…covered　mountains；　the
rainfall　of　Cyprus　was　far　greater　than　at　present；　and　that　important
torrents　swept　down　from　the　hill…sides。　We　see　evidences　of　this　in　the
rounded　blocks；　all　water…worn；　of　syenite　and　gneiss；　which　are
intermingled　with　the　bits　of　broken　pottery　in　the　vale；　alike　relics
of　the　past　and　proving　the　changes　both　in　nature　and　in　man　since
Cyprus　was　in　the　zenith　of　prosperity。

A　level　plateau　about　eighteen　feet　above　the　lowest　level　of　the　plain
shows　the　original　surface。　The　soil　of　the　entire　valley　is　calcareous；
and　is　eminently　adapted　for　the　cultivation　of　the　vine　and　cereals。　As
the　rain　has　percolated　through　the　ground；　it　has　become　so　thoroughly
impregnated　with　sulphate　of　lime　t