cyprus, as i saw it in 1879-第43章

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General　History　of　the　Turks；　published　in　London　in　1638。

The　conditions　of　surrender　stipulated　that　〃The　garrison　should　march
out　with　five　guns　and　the　horses　of　the　commanders；　and　should　be
conveyed　to　Candia　in　the　ships　and　at　the　expense　of　the　Turks；　that
the　inhabitants　should　be　free　to　quit　the　town　and　take　their　property；
and　that　those　who　preferred　to　remain　should　be　unmolested　both　as
regards　their　persons　and　their　goods。〃*　
（*Captain　Savile's　Cyprus；　p。　22。）

General　di　Cesnola　writes；　page　39：

　　　　〃These　conditions　were　eagerly　accepted　by　the
　　　　treacherous　Mustafa；　hostages　were　exchanged；
　　　　Turkish　vessels；　as　stipulated；　entered　the　port　of
　　　　Famagousta；　and　took　on　board　all　those　who　wished
　　　　to　leave　the　island；　nothing　remained　but　the　formality
　　　　of　delivering　the　keys　of　the　city　to　the　victor。

　　　　〃On　5th　August　General　Bragadino；　accompanied
　　　　by　his　lieutenants　Baglioni；　Martinengo；　and　Quirini；
　　　　went　to　the　Turkish　camp；　and　was　politely　received
　　　　by　Mustafa。　After　the　delivery　of　the　keys；　and
　　　　when　General　Bragadino　had　risen　to　take　leave；　the
　　　　vile　Turk　asked　him　for　special　hostages　for　the　safe
　　　　return　from　Candia　of　the　Turkish　vessels　which　were
　　　　to　convey　him　and　his　men　thither；　Bragadino　refused
　　　　this；　as　not　having　been　stipulated　in　the　accepted
　　　　conditions　of　his　surrender。　Then　Mustafa　accused
　　　　him　of　bad　faith；　and　of　having　put　to　death　fifty
　　　　Turkish　pilgrims　after　he　had　surrendered；　which　was
　　　　indignantly　denied　by　Bragadino。　The　pasha；　becoming
　　　　enraged；　ordered　the　four　Venetians　to　be　put　to　death；
　　　　and　in　a　few　minutes　Generals　Baglioni；　Martinengo；
　　　　and　Quirini　were　executed　in　the　presence　of　Bragadino；　
　　　　for　whom　a　more　terrible　death　was　reserved。
　　　　The　executioner　cut　off　his　nose　and　ears；　three　times
　　　　he　was　made　to　lay　his　head　upon　the　block；　as　if
　　　　to　be　beheaded；　then；　heavily　chained；　was　thrown
　　　　into　a　dark　dungeon；　and　left　for　nine　days　in　that
　　　　miserable　condition。

　　　　〃On　the　tenth　day；　by　order　of　Mustafa；　Bragadino
　　　　was　brought　out　of　prison　and　made　to　carry　earth
　　　　for　the　repair　of　the　fortifications　during　several　hours；
　　　　after　which；　more　dead　than　alive；　the　heroic　soldier
　　　　was　tied　to　a　stake；　and；　in　the　presence　of　the　ferocious
　　　　Mustafa；　was　flayed　alive。　His　skin；　stuffed　with　hay；
　　　　was　sent　with　the　heads　of　the　other　three　Venetians
　　　　as　presents　to　the　Sultan。〃

The　two　most　important　conquests　of　Cyprus　have　thus　commenced　from　the
port　of　Limasol；　which　is　destined　to　become　of　primary　importance　as
the　great　commercial　representative　town　of　this　now　poor　island。

We　remained　sixteen　days　at　Limasol；　during　which　time　we　had　the
pleasure　of　the　society　of　Colonel　and　Mrs。　Warren　and　their　young
family；　which　we　thoroughly　appreciated　after　the　exile　from　civilised
life　and　ladies　since　we　had　quitted　Kyrenia　and　Lefkosia。　The　leading
officials　and　some　Greek　merchants　of　the　town　were　good　enough　to　call
frequently；　and　kindly　afforded　much　information；　at　the　same　time　they
did　not　conceal　their　disappointment　at　the　terms　of　the　occupation；
which；　by　draining　the　island　of　its　revenue；　completely　paralysed　the
good　intentions　of　the　English　government；　the　best　resolutions　being
valueless　unless　supported　by　the　necessary　capital。

Although　I　received　every　politeness　from　the　inhabitants；　who　appeared
to　think　I　had　some　official　mission；　it　was　not　difficult　to　trace　a
general　tone　of　complaint　and　dissatisfaction；　which　was　perfectly
natural　under　the　existing　regime。　Although　nothing　could　exceed　the
pains　taken　by　Sir　Garnet　Wolseley　and　all　his　officials　to　introduce
reforms　for　the　general　welfare　of　the　people；　the　task　was　simply
impossible　where　various　interests　were　conflicting；　and　no　HYBRID
government　could　at　once　destroy　existing　abuses　and　at　the　same　time
establish　laws　suitable　to　all　classes。　This　general　reform　required　an
independent　administration；　untrammelled　by　mongrel　relations　with　the
Turk；　and　equally　free　from　the　vexatious　labyrinths　of　English
jurisprudence。　I　do　not　wish　to　catalogue　the　long　list　of　grievances
which　have　been　entrusted　to　my　unwilling　ears；　but　there　are　some　which
are　so　utterly　destructive　to　the　interests　of　the　country　and　the
government；　that　I　have　no　hesitation　in　describing　them。

The　great　trade　of　Limasol　is　wine；　as　the　district　exhibits　the
industry　first　encouraged　by　the　Venetians；　this；　as　the　great
money…producing　cultivation；　opposed　to　Mussulman　prejudices；　has　been
burdened　with　extortionate　taxation　and　restrictions；　which　have　not　yet
been　relieved　by　the　British　administration。



CHAPTER　X。

THE　WINE　DISTRICT　OF　LIMASOL。

In　the　fifteenth　century　the　Cyprian　vines　were　selected　for　the　now
celebrated　vineyards　of　Madeira；　nothing　can　better　exemplify　the
standard　of　industry　and　consequent　prosperity　than　the　vine；　when　we
regard　the　identical　plant　in　the　hands　of　the　Portuguese　and　in　its
original　home　in　Cyprus　under　the　Turkish　administration。　The　first
historical　notice　of　the　vine　occurs　when　Noah；　stranded　upon　Mount
Ararat；　took　advantage；　upon　the　first　subsidence　of　the　waters；　to
plant　a　vineyard；　and；　according　to　the　curt　biblical　description；　it
grew；　produced；　and　the　wine　intoxicated　the　proprietor；　all　within　a
few　days。　It　may　not　have　occurred　to　the　wine　trade　that　this　biblical
fact　proves　that　the　consumption　of　wine　had　been　among　the　first
assumed　necessities　of　the　human　race；　if　Noah's　first　impulse　upon
landing　suggested　the　cultivation　of　the　vine；　he　was　restoring　to　the
world　a　plant　that　had　been　considered　so　absolutely　important　that　he
must　have　provided　himself　with　either　buds　or　cuttings　in　great
quantities　when　he　selected　his　animals　for　the　Ark　BEFORE　the　Deluge。
If　this　is　true；　the　use　of　wine　must　have　been　pre…historical；　and　its
abuse　historical；　the　two　purposes　having　continued　to　the　present　day。
It　may　therefore　be　acknowledged　that　no　custom　has　been　so　universal
and　continuous　as　the　drinking　of　wine　from　the　earliest　period　of　human
existence。　The　vine　is　a　mysterious　plant；　it　is　so　peculiarly　sensitive
that；　like　a　musical　instrument　which　produces　harmony　or　discord　at　the
hands　of　different　performers；　the　produce　of　the　same　variety　is
affected　by　the　soil　upon　which　the　plants　are　grown。　Thus　ten　thousand
young　vines　may　be　planted　upon　one　mountain；　all　of　the　same　stock；　but
various　qualities　of　wine　will　be　produced；　each　with　a　special
peculiarity　of　flavour；　according　to　the　peculiarities　of　soil。　The　same
estate；　planted　with　the　same　vines；　may　produce　high　class　wines　and
others　that　would　hardly　command　a　market；　if　the　soil　varies　according
to　the　degrees　of　certain　localities。　It　would　now　be　impossible　to
produce　Madeira　wine　in　Cyprus；　although　the　plants　might　be　imported
and　cultivated　with　the　greatest　attention。　When　the　vines　were　shipped
from　Cyprus　and　planted　in　Madeira　during　the　rule　of　the　Venetians；　it
must　not　be　supposed　that　those　vines　had　ever　produced　wine　of　the
well…known　Madeira　flavour　and　quality；　that　flavour　was　the　result　of
some　peculiarity　in　the　soil　of　the　new　country　to　which　the　vines　had
been　transplanted；　and　there　can　be　little　doubt　that　the　rich　and
extremely　luscious　variety　known　in　Cyprus　as　〃Commanderia〃　was　the
parent　vine　of　the　Madeira　vineyards。

It　is　well　known　that　the　costly　experiments　of　a　century　at　the　Cape　of
Good　Hope　have　verified　the　fact　that　the　vine　is　the　slave　of　certain
conditions　of　soil；　which　impart　to　this　extremely　delicate　and
sensitive　plant　a　special　flavour　that　is　incorporated　with　the　wine；
and　can　never　be　eradicated。　The　vines　of　the　Cape；　although　of　infinite
variety；　produce　wines　with　a　family　taint　which　is　a　flavour　absorbed
from　the　soil。　Any　person　who　knows　Constantia；　the　luscious　wine　of　the
Cape　of　Good　Hope；　will　at　once　detect　the　soupcon　of　that　flavour　in
every　quality　of　wine　produced　in　the　colony。　It　may　therefore　be
accepted　that　the　flavour　of　wines　depends　upon　the　soil；　thus　it　would
be　impossible　for　a　vine…grower　to　succeed　simply　by　planting　well…
known　superior　varieties　of　vines；　unless　he　has　had　practical
experience　of　the　locality　to　be　converted　into　vineyards。

This　fact　is　thoroughly　exhibited　in　Cyprus；　where　the　peculiarities　of
soils　are　exceedingly　remarkable；　and　cannot　fail　to　attract　attention；
each　of　these　qualities　of　earth　producing　a　special　wine。

If　a　planter　establishes　a　vineyard　he　will　naturally　select　a　certain
variety　of　vine；　and　a　corresponding　situation　that　will　ensure　a
marketable　quantity　of　wine；　thus　in　Cyprus　a　comparatively　small　area
of　the　island　is　devoted　to　the　cultivation　of　the　grape；　which　is
comprised　chiefly　within　the　district　of　Limasol。　No　wine　is　made　in　the
Carpas　district；　nor　to　the　north　of　the　Carpasian　range　of　jurassic
limestone；　there　are　no　vineyards　of　importance　in　the　western　district；
or　yet　in　the　plain　of　Messaria；　except　upon　the　western　border；　in　the
neighbourhood　of　Dali；　towards　the　Makhaeras　mountain。

Although　there　are　many　varieties　of　Cyprus　wines；　there　is　one
prevailing　rule：　the　white　commanderia；　a　luscious　high…flavoured　wine；
is　grown　upon　the　reddish　chocolate…coloured　soil　of　metamorphous　rocks。
The　dark　red；　or　black　astringent　wines；　are　produced　upon　the　white
marls　and　cretaceous　limestone。　The　quantity　produced　is　large；　and　the
dark　wines　can　be　purchased　retail　in　the　villages　for　one　penny　the
quart　bottle！and　in　my　opinion　are　very　dear　at　the　money。

According　to　the　official　returns　kindly　supplied　to　me　by　Mr。　Robson；
the　chief　of　customs；　the　following　list　represents　the　declared
duty…paid　production　from　1877　to　1879。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Spirits　　　　　　Commanderia　　　　　Black　Wines
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Okes　2。75　lbs。　　　　Okes　2。75　lbs。　　　　Okes　2。75　lbs。
1877…1878。　。　　　　　　　　　155；451　　　　　　　　　　　　　117；000　　　　　　　　　　2；500；000
1878…1879。　。　　　　　　　　　430；000　　　　　　　　　　　　　300；000　　　　　　　　　　6；000；000

Spirit　is　valued　at　about　2。5　Piastres　the　Oke
Commanderia　　〃　　　　　　　〃　　　　　　2　　　　　〃　　　　　〃　　　　〃
Black　Wines　　〃　　　　　　　〃　　　1。25　　　　　〃　　　　　〃　　　　〃
The　rate　of　exchange：　　9　Piastres　to　1　shilling　=　180　per　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　pound　sterling。


It　will　be　observed　that　an　immense　difference　is　represented　in　the
yield　of　the　two　years。　This　is　to　be　accounted　for　by　the
superabundance　of　rains　in　1878…1879；　which　caused　a　great　quantity；　but
bad　quality；　of　juice；　and　the　wine　of　this　vintage　is　so　inferior　that
a　large　proportion　is　turning　to　vinegar；　and　can　be　used　for　no　other
purpose。

The　habit　of　calculating　by　low　quantities；　as　〃okes；〃　as　the　French
reckon　in　〃francs；〃　is　at　first　sight　perplexing　to　the　English　mind；
and　conveys　an　erroneous　impression　of　the　actual　results。　If　the
population　of　Cyprus　is　about　200；000；　the　maximum　wine…crop　of
6；000；000　okes　would　only　yield　30　okes；　or　60　ordinary　wine…bottles；　to
each　person　during　the　year。　The　local　consumption　is　exceedingly　small；
which　can　only　be　accounted　for