be carried out。 I have never seen any fruits of high quality in Cyprus；
but they are generally most inferior； owing to the neglect of grafting；
and the overcrowding of the trees。 The cherries which grow in the
villages from 2500 to 4500 feet above the sea are taken down to Limasol
and the principal towns for sale； but they are small and tasteless；
although red and bright in colour。 They grow in large quantities； and
are never attacked by birds which render the crop precarious in England；
and necessitate the expense of netting； should the best varieties be
introduced； every natural advantage exists for their cultivation。
The apricots are not much larger than chestnuts； and would be classed as
〃wild fruit；〃 from the extreme inferiority of size and flavour； but
there is no reason except neglect for the low quality of a delicious
species of fruit that seems from the luxuriant growth of the tree to be
specially adapted to the soil and climate。 It is useless to enumerate
the varieties of fruits that are brought to market； all are inferior；
excepting grapes and lemons。 The productions of the gardens exhibit the
miserable position of the island； which emanates from a want of
elasticity in a debased and oppressed population too apathetic and
hopeless to attempt improvements。
England can change this wretched stagnation by the application of
capital； and by encouraging the development of the first necessity；
WATER； without which； all attempts at agricultural improvements； and the
extension of tree…planting in the low country； would be futile。 I shall
therefore devote the following chapter to the subject of artificial
irrigation； and its results。
CHAPTER XIV。
REMARKS ON IRRIGATION。
The ancient prosperity of Cyprus must have been due to artificial
irrigation； which ensured a maximum of production； similar to the
inundated lands of Egypt。 In the latter country the Nile is a 〃Salvator
Mundi；〃 without which Egypt would be a simple prolongation of the Nubian
and Libyan deserts； in the absence of a seasonable rainfall。 The
difference between the great cereal…producing portion of Cyprus and the
Delta of Egypt is； that； although the plain of Messaria has been formed
chiefly through the action of the Pedias river and other periodical
mountain streams； which have deposited a rich stratum of soil during
inundations； the rivers are merely torrents； or simple conduits； which
carry off the waters of heavy storms； or intervals of rain； and act as
drains in conveying the surplus waters during floods； while at other
times they are absolutely dry。
If the Nile were controlled by a series of weirs or dams； with sluices
to divert the high waters of the period into natural depressions within
the desert； to form reservoirs at high levels for the supply of Egypt in
seasons of scarcity； the command of the water…supply would be far
preferable to the chances of rain in the most favoured country。 Water；
like fire； should be the slave of man； to whom it is the first
necessity； therefore his first effort in his struggle with the elements
should reduce this power to vassalage。 There must be no question of
supremacy； water must serve mankind。
Many years ago I published； in the Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia； my
ideas for the control of the Nile and the submersion of the cataracts by
a series of weirs； with water…gates for the facility of navigation；
which with certain modifications will some day assuredly be carried out；
and will render Egypt the most favoured country of the world； as
absolute mistress of the river which is now at the same time a tyrant
and a slave。 The Pedias of Cyprus may during some terrific rainfall
assume proportions that would convey a most erroneous impression to the
mind of a stranger； who； upon regarding the boiling torrent
overspreading a valley of some miles in width in its impetuous course
towards ancient Salamis； might conclude that it was a river of the first
importance。 The fact is that no RIVER exists in Cyprus： what should be
rivers are mere channels； watercourses； brooks； torrents； or any of the
multifarious names for stream…beds that may be discovered in an English
dictionary。 At the same time that the natural channels are dry during
the summer months； through the want of power in the water…head to
overcome the absorption of the porous soil throughout its course； it
must not be forgotten that a certain supply exists at the fountain head；
within practicable distance； which might be stored and led from the
mountains to the lower lands for the purposes of irrigation。 When we
reflect that in the proverbially wet climate of England there is a
considerable difficulty in assuring a supply of wholesome water； and
that the various water companies have made enormous profits； it is not
surprising that in a neglected island like Cyprus there should be
distress in the absence of abundant rain。 The uninitiated in England
seldom appreciate the labour and expenditure that has supplied the
response to the simple turning of a tap within an ordinary house。 If
they would follow the artificial stream from the small leaden pipe to
the distant reservoir； they would discover that a glen or valley has
been walled in by a stupendous dam； which imprisons a hill…rivulet
before it can have descended to the impurities of habitations； and that
the pressure of waters thus stored at an elevated level forces a supply
to a town at a distance of many miles。 This same principle might be
adopted in numerous localities among the mountains of Cyprus； where the
streams are perennial； but are now exhausted by the absorption of the
sandy beds before they have time to reach the villages in the lower
lands。 Iron pipes might be laid to convey a water…supply to certain
districts； upon which a rate would be levied per acre and the crops
would be ensured。
The government at the present moment obtains a revenue in kind； or in a
money valuation of the corn taken at the threshing…floor； thus in the
absence of a crop through drought； or other accident； the revenue
suffers directly together with the owner： no crop； no revenue。 The main
strength of a country lies in an annual income free from serious
fluctuations； and the extreme instability of Cyprus is the result of the
peculiar uncertainty of seasons which is a special feature in its
meteorological condition。 It is therefore incumbent upon the government；
as an act of self…preservation； to take such measures of precaution as
will render certain the supply of water； which is all that is required
to ensure the average produce of the soil； and thereby to sustain the
revenue。
I do not indulge in engineering details； but； from the experience I have
gained by a personal examination of the localities； I am convinced that
no difficulty whatever exists that would not be overcome with a very
moderate outlay。 The mountains are admirably situated； with a watershed
upon all sides； thus offering the greatest facilities for reservoirs and
pipes that would radiate in every direction。 This subject will demand a
careful inquiry by hydraulic engineers； as it is a special branch of the
profession that requires wide experience； and large sums may be
fruitlessly expended through ignorance； where a trifling amount well
administered might achieve great results。
One of the first necessary steps in an examination of the subterranean
water…supply of Cyprus will be 〃borings〃 that will test the existence
of artesian springs。 There are in many portions of the island extensive
plateaux at high altitudes that would absorb a considerable rainfall； in
addition to a large superficial area of mountains and hills that would
exert the requisite pressure to force the water above the surface of a
lower level upon boring； should it now lie beneath some impervious
stratum。 Boring will alone solve this question。 Should artesian wells be
practicable in certain localities； an immense blessing will be conferred
upon the island。
In the meantime the native method already described； of connecting
chains of wells from different springs converging to a main channel or
subterranean tunnel； is an original form of Cyprian engineering
thoroughly understood by the population； which should be strenuously
encouraged。 It is a common fault among English people to ignore the
value of native methods； and to substitute some costly machinery which
requires skilled labour and expense in working； this must in time get
out of order and necessitate delay and extra outlay in repairs；
generally at a period when the machine is most required。
It is a curious fact that the shadoof or lever and bucket worked by
hand； which is so generally used throughout Egypt； is unknown in Cyprus；
where in many localities it would be easily worked when water is within
five to eight feet of the surface。 This arrangement only requires a pole
of about twenty feet in length supported upon an upright post； so as to
play like a pump…handle by the balance of a weight attached to one end
to counterbalance the pail of water suspended to a long stick and short
rope at the other extremity。 In Egypt the weight at the short end is
merely a mass of clay tempered with chopped straw beaten together to
represent about 150 lbs。 or whatever may be required； this adheres； and
forms a knob to the end of the lever。
A man holds the long thin stick suspended at the other extremity to
which the bucket is attached； and pulls it down hand over hand until the
utensil is immersed in the water； when full； it is so nearly
counterbalanced by the weight at the end of the lever that a very slight
exertion raises it to the desired level； where it is emptied into a
receiver。 Many years ago； when at Gondokoro； I arranged a double shadoof
of parallel levers and two galvanised iron buckets of four gallons each；
worked by two men。 I timed the labour of this simple machine； and proved
that the two men delivered 3600 gallons within an hour。 The men exerted
themselves to a degree that could not have been continued throughout the
day； and the buckets； of English make； were far more capacious than the
simple leather stretched upon a hoop of sticks that is used in Egypt；
but there is no reason for such infe