cyprus, as i saw it in 1879-第76节

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depredations　of　the　insect　tribe；　whereas　by　a　system　of　organisation　he
would　at　the　least　have　mitigated　the　scourge　which　has　in　many
instances　resulted　in　absolute　famine。　At　one　time　the　plague　of　locusts
was　annually　expected　in　Cyprus　as　a　natural　advent　like　the　arrival　of
swallows　in　the　usual　season；　and　when　the　swarms　were　extreme　the　crops
were　devoured　throughout　the　island；　and　swept　completely　from　the
surface；　entailing　general　ruin。　The　cultivation　of　cotton；　which　should
be　one　of　the　most　important　industries；　has　been　much　restricted　from
the　fear　of　locusts；　as　they　appear　in　May；　when　the　tender　young　plants
are　a　few　inches　above　the　ground　and　are　the　first　objects　of　attack。

It　is　related　that　when　under　the　Venetians；　Cyprus　annually　exported
30；000　bales　or　6；600；000　lbs。　of　cotton。　In　1877　the　consular　reports
estimated　the　entire　produce　of　the　island　at　2000　bales　of　200　okes　per
bale；　or　1；100；000　lbs。；　equal　to　only　one…sixth　of　the　original
Venetian　export。

The　steps　taken　to　destroy　the　locusts　have　so　far　diminished　their
numbers　that　in　certain　districts　the　production　of　cotton　might　be
largely　extended。　M。　Mattei；　and　Said　Pacha　when　governor　of　Cyprus；
combined　to　make　war　upon　the　locust　swarms　by　means　of　a　simple　but
effective　method；　which　will　render　their　names　historical　as　the
greatest　benefactors　in　an　island　that　has　seldom　known　aught　but
oppressors。

The　idea　originated　with　Signor　Richard　Mattei；　who　is　the　largest
landed　proprietor　in　Cyprus。　It　is　much　to　be　regretted　that
professional　entomologists　can　seldom　assist　us　in　the　eradication　of
insect　plagues；　they　can　explain　their　habits；　but　they　are　useless　as
allies　against　their　attacks。　M。　Mattei　had　observed　that　the　young
locusts　invariably　marched　straight　ahead；　and　turned　neither　to　the
right　or　left；　he　had　also　remarked　that　upon　arrival　at　an　obstacle
they　would　endeavour　to　climb　over；　instead　of　going　round　it。　Under
these　peculiarities　of　natural　instinct　a　very　simple　arrangement
sufficed　to　lead　them　to　destruction。　Pits　were　dug　about　three　or　four
feet　deep　at　right　angles　with　the　line　of　march；　and　screens　of　cotton
cloth　edged　at　the　bottom　with　oil…skin　were　arranged　something　after
the　fashion　of　stop…nets　for　ground　game　in　covert…shooting　in　England。
This　wall；　with　a　slippery　groundwork；　prevented　the　insects　from
proceeding。　As　they　never　turn　back；　they　were　obliged　to　search
sideways　for　a　passage；　and　were　thus　led　into　the　pits　in　millions；
where　they　were　destroyed　by　burying　the　masses　beneath　heaps　of　earth。
If　a　few　gallons　of　petroleum　were　sprinkled　over　them；　and　fire
applied；　much　trouble　would　be　saved。　This　is　a　crude　method　of　insect
destruction　which　could　be　improved　upon；　but　great　praise　is　due　to　the
efforts　of　M。　Richard　Mattei　and　Said　Pacha　for　having　devoted　their
energies　so　successfully　to　the　eradication　of　a　scourge　which　proved
its　ancient　importance　from　the　Biblical　registration　of　a　curse　upon
the　Egyptians。

There　is　a　reward　given　by　government　for　the　destruction　of　locust
eggs。　Each　female　deposits　two　small　cases　or　sheaths　beneath　the
ground；　containing　thirty　or　forty　eggs　in　each。　The　position　is　easily
distinguished　by　a　shining　slimy　substance。　A　certain　sum　per　oke　is
given；　and　the　people　gladly　avail　themselves　of　the　opportunity　of
earning　money　at　the　same　time　that　they　destroy　the　common　enemy。

The　British　administration　is　keenly　alive　to　the　importance　of　this
warfare；　and　I　have　frequently　met　commissioners　of　districts　galloping
in　hot　haste；　as　though　in　pursuit　of　a　retreating　enemy；　towards　some
quarter　where　the　appearance　of　locust　swarms　may　have　been　reported；　in
order　to　take　immediate　measures　for　their　destruction。

Unfortunately　the　locust　is　not　the　only　enemy　of　cotton　cultivation；
but　the　（to　my　mind）　abominable　system　of　dimes；　or　tenths　of　produce　to
be　valued　while　growing；　restricts　the　cultivator　to　an　inferior　variety
that　will　remain　within　the　pod；　instead　of　expanding　when　liberated　by
ripening。

The　cultivation　of　cotton　differs　according　to　the　many　varieties　of　the
plant。　Pliny　described　the　〃wool…bearing　trees　of　Ethiopia；〃　and　I　have
myself　seen　the　indigenous　cotton　thriving　in　a　wild　state　in　those
parts　from　whence　they　were　first　introduced　to　Egypt；　during　the　reign
of　Mehemet　Ali；　grandfather　of　the　Khedive。　It　is　well　known　that
although　comparatively　a　recent　article　of　cultivation　in　Egypt；　it　has
become　one　of　the　most　important　exports　from　that　country。　Cotton　of
the　first　quality　requires　a　peculiar　combination　of　local　conditions。
Water　must　be　at　command　whenever　required　during　the　various　stages　of
cultivation；　and　perfectly　dry　weather　must　be　assured　when　the　crop　is
ripe　and　fit　to　gather。　The　collection　extends　over　many　days；　as　the
pods　do　not　burst　at　the　same　period。　Some　of　the　most　valuable　kinds
detach　easily　from　the　expanded　husk　and　fall　quickly　to　the　ground；
which　entails　constant　attention；　and　the　quality　would　deteriorate
unless　labour　is　always　at　hand　to　gather　the　cotton　before　it　shall
fall　naturally　from　the　plant。

It　will　be　therefore　understood　that；　although　many　soils　may　be　highly
favourable　to　the　growth　of　fine　qualities　of　cotton；　there　is　an
absolute　necessity　for　a　combination　of　a　peculiar　climate；　where
neither　rain　nor　dew　shall　moisten；　and　accordingly　deteriorate　the
crop。　Egypt　is　specially　favoured　for　the　production　of　first…class
cotton；　as　in　the　upper　portions　of　the　Delta　rain　is　seldom　known；　but
the　extreme　carelessness　of　the　people　has　reduced　the　average　quality
by　mixing　the　seeds；　instead　of　keeping　the　various　classes　rigidly
separate。

The　dry　climate；　combined　with　the　fertile　soil　of　Cyprus；　would　suggest
a　great　extension　of　cotton　cultivation；　when　artificial　irrigation
shall　be　generally　developed；　but　so　long　as　the　present　system　of
collecting　the　dimes　is　continued；　the　farmer　cannot　produce　the　higher
qualities　which　require　immediate　attention　in　collecting。　During　the
delay　in　waiting　for　the　official　valuer；　the　pods　are　bursting　rapidly；
and　the　valuable　quality　is　falling　to　the　ground；　the　cultivator　is
therefore　confined　to　the　growth　of　those　inferior　cottons　that　will
adhere　to　the　pods；　and　wait　patiently　for　the　arrival　of　the　government
authority。

Consul　Hamilton　Lang；　in　his　interesting　work　upon　Cyprus；　suggests　that
the　duty　should　be　collected　upon　export；　to　relieve　the　farmer　from　the
present　difficulty；　which　would　enable　him　to　cultivate　the　American
high　qualities。　It　is　almost　amusing　to　contrast　the　criticisms　and
advice　of　the　various　British　consuls　who　have　for　many　years
represented　us　in　Cyprus　with　the　ideas　of　modern　officials。　There　can
be　no　doubt　concerning　consular　reports　in　black　and　white；　and　equally
there　can　be　no　question　of　existing　ordinances　under　the　British
administration；　but　what　appeared　highly　unjust　to　our　consuls　when
Cyprus　was　under　Turkish　rule；　is　accepted　as　perfectly　equitable　now
that　the　island　has　passed　into　the　hands　of　Great　Britain。

For　many　years　I　have　taken　a　peculiar　interest　in　cotton　cultivation；
and　in　1870　I　introduced　the　excellent　Egyptian　variety；　known　as
〃galleen；〃　into　Central　Africa；　and　planted　it　at　Gondokoro；　north
latitude　4　degrees　54'；　with　excellent　results。　In　the　first　year　this
grew　to　the　height　of　about　seven　feet；　with　a　proportionate　thickness
of　stem；　and　the　spreading　branches　produced　an　abundant　crop　of　a　fine
quality；　which　detached　itself　from　the　seeds；　immediately　reducing　the
operation　of　the　cleaning…machine　or　〃cotton…gin〃　to　a　minimum　of
labour。　I　have　been　much　struck　with　the　inferiority　of　Cyprian　cotton；
scarcely　any　of　the　crop　finds　its　way　to　England；　but　is　exported　to
Marseilles　and　Trieste。　Should　Consul　Lang's　suggestion　be　carried　out；
and　the　duty　be　taken　upon　export　to　relieve　the　grower　from　the
vexatious　delays　of　the　inquisitor　or　government　valuer；　there　can　be　no
question　of　immediate　improvement。　There　is　no　more　trouble　or　expense
in　producing　a　first…class　cotton　than　in　the　commonest　variety；　when
climate　and　soil　are　so　peculiarly　favourable　as　in　Cyprus。　If　the
government　continues　the　system　of　ad　valorem　taxation；　common　sense
will　suggest　that　the　highest　quality　would　alike　be　favourable　to　the
revenue　and　to　the　cultivator；　therefore；　in　the　interests　of　the
country　and　of　individuals；　every　encouragement　should　be　afforded　to
the　farmers　to　ensure　the　best　of　all　species　of　produce　throughout　the
island。　The　excellent　compilation　of　Captain　Savile；　officially　and
expressly　printed　for　the　service　of　the　government；　contains　the
following　passages：

〃According　to　all　accounts　the　taxation　of　the　inhabitants　of　Cyprus　has
under　Turkish　administration　been　carried　out　in　a　most　severe　and
oppressive　manner；　and　the　imposts　upon　certain　articles　of　agriculture
and　commerce　have　been　so　heavy　that　their　culture　and　export　has　in
some　cases　been　almost　abandoned。　。　。　。

〃The　cultivation　of　vines　for　the　manufacture　of　wine　has　been　so
heavily　and　unjustly　taxed；　th