simple leather stretched upon a hoop of sticks that is used in Egypt；
but there is no reason for such inferior adjuncts。 It may be safely
assumed that with proper appliances the double shadoof； worked by two
men； will deliver 2000 gallons an hour for a working day of six active
hours； or a total of 12；000 gallons。 In Cyprus the wages of a labourer
are one shilling a day； therefore the cost of raising 12；000 gallons
would be only two shillings； provided the water is only five feet from
the surface。 There are many portions of the Messaria plain where the
water is even nearer； but the shadoof could work profitably at six； and
even at eight feet； and it possesses the advantage of such extreme
cheapness of original cost that the outlay is insignificant。
Where fuel is expensive； and cattle and human labour cheap； the ancient
Egyptian water…wheel will deliver a supply at a cheaper rate than steam。
It has the merit of being always ready； there is no delay in lighting
fires and getting up the steam； there is no expensive engineer who may
be sick or absent when required； but the wheel is turned either by night
or day by mules or oxen； driven by a child。 Wind vanes might be attached
to this principle； and could be connected on favourable occasions。
The peculiarity throughout the lower levels in Cyprus （specially
exhibited in the plain of Messaria） of a water…supply within a few feet
of the surface； at the same time that the crops may be perishing from
drought； is in favour of the general adoption of the Egyptian wheel。
Although this simple construction is one of the oldest inventions for
raising water； and is generally understood； I may be excused for
describing it when upon the important topic of irrigation。
A large pit is sunk to about three feet below the level of the water；
and should the earth not be sufficiently tenacious for self…support； the
sides are walled with masonry； this pit would usually be about twenty
feet long； four feet wide； and twenty feet deep for a first…class wheel。
When the wooden wheel of about seventeen feet diameter has been fixed
upon its horizontal shaft； it is arranged with a chain of large earthen
jars； those of Egypt contain about three gallons each； but the Cyprian
pots are very inferior； scarcely exceeding the same number of quarts。
These jars are secured upon a double line of stiff ropes formed in
Cyprus of the long twisted wands of myrtle； which are exceedingly tough；
and are substitutes for willows in basket…work。 When completed； the
chain resembles a rope ladder； with the numerous jars sufficiently close
together to represent spokes separated by about sixteen inches。 This is
suspended over the edge of the wheel； and hangs vertically； the lower
portion of this necklace…like arrangement being about three feet below
the water； or as near the bottom as is possible with safety to the jars。
When the wheel turns the necklace of pots must of necessity obey the
movement； and as they dip successively and fill in the deep water； they
in turn rise to the surface with the revolutions of the wheel； upon
passing the centre they invert； and empty their contents into a large
trough connected with a reservoir capable of containing many hundred
hogsheads。 A circular chain or ladder of twenty feet diameter will
contain about twenty jars of three gallons eachequalling a delivery
of about two and a half gallons per jar； as there is generally a loss of
water during the movement； therefore one complete revolution of the
wheel would deliver fifty gallons into the reservoir。
The wheel is turned by a simple contrivance of wooden cogs and drivers；
worked by a long revolving lever； to which； for a powerful machine such
as I have described； a pair of mules or oxen would be necessary。 A child
sits upon the pole or lever and keeps the animals to their work。
There is no specified limit to the depth at which this instrument can
work； as it must depend upon the length of chain and the number of jars；
which of course increase the weight and strain upon the machinery and
animals。 In Cyprus； where the water is generally near the surface； the
advantages are obvious； and I feel convinced that no modern invention is
so well adapted for the Cypriote cultivator。
The cost of erection of such a machine complete； together with the
sinking of the pit； is calculated； at an average of localities； as 12
pounds； a pair of oxen will cost 10 pounds： thus the water…wheel in
working order will amount to 22 pounds。 One wheel will irrigate eighty
donums； or about forty acres of cereals； but the same instrument would
only suffice for about six acres of garden ground； which requires a more
constant supply of water。 It may therefore be understood that in
calculating the power of a water…wheel； various conditions must be
considered； and I shall confine myself to the farm； upon which it will
be necessary to establish one water…wheel or sakyeeah for every forty
acres； this entails a first outlay of eleven shillings per acre； and at
once ensures the crop and renders the farmer independent of the seasons。
But including the cost of constructing the numerous water…channels of
clay to conduct the stream to the desired fields； together with the
expense of erecting the reservoirs of masonry upon a sufficient scale； I
should raise the original outlay for irrigation by cattle…wheels to 20
shillings per acre （1 pound）。 This would include the services of a pair
of oxen for other work when the sakyeeah should not be required。* （*The
wheel I have described is double the power of those in general use in
Cyprus； where a single animal works the sakyeeah； and it would irrigate
a larger acreage。） According to this calculation； which exceeds by a
large margin the figures given to me by several native farmers； the
owner of a hundred acres must only expend 100 pounds to ensure his
annual crops！ To us this appears nothing； but to the Cypriote it is
everything。 Where is he to obtain one hundred pounds？ To him the sum is
enormous and overpowering。
In times of scarcity； which unfortunately are the general conditions of
the country； owing to the deficiency of rain； the farmer must borrow
money not only for the current expenses of his employment； but for the
bare sustenance of his family； he has recourse to the usurer； and
henceforth becomes his slave。 The rate of interest may be anything that
can be imagined when extortion acts upon one side while poverty and
absolute famine are the petitioners。 The farm； together with the stock；
are mortgaged； and the expected crops for a stipulated number of seasons
are made over to the usurer at a fixed sum per measure of corn； far
below the market price。 Another bad season adds to the crushing burden；
and after a few years； when the unfortunate landowner is completely
overwhelmed with debt； perchance one of the happy years arrives when
propitious rains in the proper season bring forth the grand
cereal…producing power of Cyprus； and the wheat and barley； six feet
high； wave over the green surface throughout the island。 The yield of
one such abundant crop almost releases the debtor from his misery；
another year would free him from the usurer； but rarely or never are two
favourable seasons consecutive； the abundant harvest is generally
followed by several years of drought。 This pitiable position may be
quickly changed by government assistance without the slightest risk。
The first necessity is capital； and the usurer must disappear from the
scene。 I do not think that an agricultural bank will be practically
worked； as the value of money in the east is above 6 per cent。； which is
the maximum that the Cyprian cultivator should pay。 The government must
advance loans for the special erection of water…wheels； or other methods
of irrigation； at 6 per cent。； taking a mortgage of the land as their
security； this loan upon water…works to take precedence of all others。
The government can borrow at 4 per cent。； and will lend at 6； which is
not a bad beginning for a national bank。 The water…wheels can be
constructed in a few weeks； and their effect would be IMMEDIATE； there
would be no doubtful interval of years； but the very first season would
leave the cultivator in a position to repay the loan； at the same time；
the government would reap the direct benefit of a certain revenue from
the irrigated and assured production of the land。
This is no visionary theory； the fact is already patent in the few farms
belonging to wealthy land…owners that I have already described； as
exhibiting the simple power of a few water…wheels to produce abundance；
while upon the margin of such verdant examples the country is absolutely
desert； parched and withered by a burning sun； yielding nothing either
to the owner or to the revenue； while at the same time the water…supply
is only four or five yards beneath the feet of the miserable proprietor；
who has neither capital nor power to raise it to the surface。
There is no necessity for the government to embark in any uncertain
enterprise； neither should they interfere with the native methods of
irrigation； and above all things； no money should leave the island to
fill the pockets of English contractors in the purchase of pumps； or
other inventions。 All that is required by the Cypriote is capital； lend
him the money at 6 per cent。： the government will be saved all trouble；
and the profit to all parties will be assured。 The money expended in the
erection of water…wheels or other works will circulate throughout the
island in the payment of native labour； and will relieve the wants of
many who； in the absence of land； must earn their livelihood by manual
labour。 〃Water！〃 is the cry throughout this neglected island； it has
been the cry in Eastern lands from time immemorial； when in the thirsty
desert Moses smote the rock； and the stream gushed forth for multitudes；
when Elijah mocked the priests of Baal with； 〃Call him louder！〃 in their
vain appeal for rain； and the 〃little cloud； no bigger than a man's
hand；〃 rose upon the horizon in answer to his prayer。 In the savage
tribes of Africa； the 〃rain…maker〃 occupies the position of priest and
chief。 In England； the clergy offer prayers for either