cyprus, as i saw it in 1879-第52章

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About　250　feet　above　the　monastery　the　ridge　of　a　spur　afforded　a　level
space　beneath　some　tall　pines　which　threw　a　welcome　shade；　and　would
have　been　a　convenient　camping…ground。　This　spot　was　occupied　by　the
roughest　of　log…huts；　which　had　been　erected　by　a　shepherd　as　his　summer
residence　when　the　goats　should　be　driven　from　the　low　ground　to　the
mountain　pasture。　This　man　was　originally　a　Turk；　and　formed　one　of　a
peculiar　sect　known　in　Cyprus　as　Linobambaki　（linen　and　cotton）。　These
people　are　said　to　be　converts　to　Christianity；　but　in　reality　they　have
never　been　troubled　with　any　religious　scruples；　and　accordingly　never
accommodate　their　principles　to　the　society　of　their　neighbourhood。　In　a
Turkish　village　the　Linobambaki　would　call　himself　by　a　Turkish　name；　as
Mahomet；　or　Hassan；　&c。；　while　in　a　Christian　community　he　would　pass　as
Michael　or　Georgy；　or　by　other　Greek　appellations。　The　name　〃linen　and
cotton〃　applied　to　them　is　expressive　of　their　lukewarmness　and
time…serving；　their　religious　professions　fluctuating　according　to　the
dictates　not　of　conscience；　but　personal　interest。　It　is　supposed　that
about　1500　of　these　people　exist　in　various　parts　of　Cyprus；　they　are
baptised　in　the　Greek　Church；　and　can　thus　escape　conscription　for
military　service　according　to　Turkish　law。　The　goatherd　upon　our
mountain　had　been　a　Turkish　servant　（shepherd）　in　a　Greek　family；　and
had　succeeded　in　gaining　the　heart　of　his　master's　daughter；　whom　he　was
permitted　to　marry　after　many　difficulties。　This　woman　must　have　been
very　beautiful　when　young；　as；　in　spite　of　hard　work　and　exposure；　she
was　handsome　at　forty；　with　a　pair　of　eyes　that　in　youth　might　have　been
more　attractive　than　the　mysterious　light　in　the　hermit's　cave。　It　is
one　of　the　blessings　of　fine　eyes　that　they　are　almost　certain　to
descend　to　the　children。　Property　may　vanish；　litigation　may　destroy　the
substance　of　an　inheritance；　but　the　eyes；　large；　soft；　and　gentle；
which　can　occasionally　startle　you　by　their　power　and　subdue　you　by　a
tear；　are　the　children's　entail　that　nothing　can　disestablish。　Even　when
time　has　trampled　upon　complexion；　the　eyes　of　beauty　last　till　death。

The　children　of　this　Linobambaki　and　his　handsome　wife　were　seventwo
boys　of　about　nineteen　and　seventeen；　and　five　girls　from　fourteen　to
one　and　a　halfall　of　whom　had　the　eyes　of　the　mother　developed　most
favourably。　I　cannot　well　describe　every　individual　of　a　family：　there
were　the　two　handsome　shepherd　youths　who　would　have　made　level　ground
of　mountain　steeps；　through　their　power　and　activity。

　　　　〃Right　up　Ben　Lomond　could　he　press；
　　　　　And　not　a　sob　his　toil　confess。〃

These　young　fellows　matched　the　goats　in　clambering　up　the　rocks　and
following　their　wayward　flocks　throughout　the　summits　of　the　Troodos
range；　and　their　sisters　the　little　shepherdesses　were　in　their　way
equally　surprising；　in　hunting　runaway　goats　from　the　deepest　chasm　to
the　sharpest　mountain…peak。

I　hardly　know　who　was　our　greatest　favourite。　There　was　〃Katterina〃
（about　fourteen）　too　old　to　make　a　pet　of；　but　a　gentle…charactered
girl；　always　willing　to　please　and　never　out　of　temper；　and　even　in　the
big；　hateful；　beauty…destroying；　high　hob…nailed　boots　she　could　run　up
the　mountain　soil　and　clamber　like　a　monkey。　Then　came；　I　believe；　our
best　favourite；　the　bright；　large…eyed；　sparkling　child　〃Vathoo；〃　who
was　the　real　beauty　of　the　family；　about　ten　years　old；　she　was　full　of
life　and　vigour；　a　perfect　goat　upon　the　mountains；　with　a　most　lovely
face　that　would　have　charmed　Murillo　as　a　subject；　with　an　extreme
perfection　of　features；　a　bronzed　complexion；　but　hardly　the　soft
expression　required　for　a　sacred　picture；　in　fact　Vathoo　was　a　perfect
little　gipsy　beauty；　with　perhaps　more　devil　than　angel　in　her　impulsive
character。

Then　came　the　real　gentle　little　face　with　gazelle…like　eyes；　〃Baraksu；〃
about　eight　years　old：　followed　by　a　minimum　shepherdess；　〃Athena；〃　of
nearly　five　years　old；　who　climbed　the　rocks；　shouted；　and　threw　stones
at　her　refractory　flock；　as　though　an　experienced　goatherd　of　forty。　The
youngest　was　just　able　to　stand；　with　a　pair　of　the　biggest　black　eyes；
and　a　natural　instinct　for　gorging　itself　with　unripe　fruits　and　hard
nuts；　which；　added　to　its　maternal　sustenance　that　it　was　still
enjoying；　proved　the　mill…like　character　of　its　infantine　digestion。　For
two　months　we　thought　this　young　Hercules　was　a　promising　boy；　until　by
an　accident　we　discovered　it　was　a　〃young　lady〃　Linobambaki！　When　we
arrived　at　Trooditissa　these　children　were　in　rags　and　filth；　but　under
the　tutelage　of　my　wife　they　quickly　changed；　and　the　never…failing
fountain；　assisted　by　a　cake　of　soap　supplied　occasionally；　effected　a
marked　improvement　in　all　complexions。

They　were　remarkably　well…mannered　after　the　first　natural　shyness　had
worn　away；　and　formed　a　contrast　to　children　of　a　low　class　in　England
in　never　misbehaving　when　intimate。　All　these　little　creatures　were
employed　in　cleaning　and　improving　the　place；　even　the　minute　Athena
might　be　seen　carrying　a　great　stone　upon　her　small　shoulder；　adding　her
mite　to　the　work；　and　rubbing　the　galled　spot　as　she　threw　down　her
load。　The　bright　threepenny　pieces　were　in　great　favour；　and　the
children　invariably　hastened　to　their　mother　with　their　earnings　at　the
close　of　the　afternoon。　When　the　camp　and　monastery　surroundings　were　in
perfect　order　there　was　no　longer　any　remunerative　employment　for　the
family；　except　the　uncertain　and　occasional　work　of　collecting　wild
flowers　for　the　tent　and　table。　The　myrtles　bloomed　in　early　July；　and
in　the　deep　ravine　by　the　waterfall　the　oleanders　were　then　still　in
blossom。　Several　plants　which　were　strange　to　me　were　added　to　the
collection；　the　days　were　generally　passed　by　the　children　in　minding
the　numerous　goats　until　the　evening；　when　each　child　brought　some
simple　offering　of　flowers。　We　bought　sheep　from　the　low　country　at
about　six　or　seven　shillings　each；　and　Vathoo　was　the　special
shepherdess　of　our　small　flock；　for　which　she　was　responsible；　they　were
invariably　driven　out　at　4　A。M。　and　brought　home　at　8　to　avoid　the　sun；
and　again　taken　out　from　4　P。M。　till　7。

In　this　simple　manner　we　passed　our　time　at　Trooditissa；　my　amusements
were　my　small　garden；　writing　an　account　of　Cyprus；　and　strolling　over
the　mountains：　the　latter　occupation　being　most　unprofitable；　as　I
destroyed　all　my　boots　upon　the　horrible　surface　of　loose　stones；　in
which　there　was　little　geological　interest；　as　they　were　all　gneiss　and
syenite；　cracked　and　starred　during　a　process　of　subaquean　cooling。　The
deplorable　aspect　of　the　otherwise　beautiful　mountains　was　occasioned　by
the　wholesale　and　wilful　destruction　of　pine…trees；　which　is　the
Cypriote's　baneful　characteristic；　and　as　this　is　one　of　the　most
important　subjects　in　the　modern　history　of　the　island；　I　shall　devote
the　following　special　chapter　entirely　to　the　question　of　〃Woods　and
Forests。〃



CHAPTER　XIII。

WOODS　AND　FORESTS。

The　climate　of　Cyprus　is　extreme　in　temperature　during　the　months　of
June；　July；　August；　and　until　the　close　of　September；　throughout　the
greater　portion　of　the　island　the　treeless　surface　absorbs　the　sun's
rays；　and　during　the　night　radiates　the　heat　thus　obtained；　which　raises
the　thermometer　to　90　degrees　before　sunrise：　while　at　noon　it
occasionally　marks　100　degrees　beneath　the　shade。　A　treeless　country
must　either　be　extremely　hot　or　cold；　according　to　the　latitude；　and
without　a　certain　proportion　of　forest　there　will　be　an　absence　of
equilibrium　in　temperature。　Most　persons　will　have　observed　the　effect
of　heat　radiation　from　rocks；　or　even　from　the　walls　of　a　building　that
have　been　exposed　to　a　summer's　sun　during　the　long　day。　At　about　six
P。M。；　when　the　air　is　cool；　the　sun…heat　stored　by　absorption　escapes
from　its　imprisonment；　and　thermometers　would　exhibit　a　difference　of
many　degrees　if　placed　at　two　feet　from　the　ground；　and　at　fifty；　the
rocks　and　earth　have　been　heated　like　an　oven。　Trees　will　affect　the
surface　of　the　soil　in　the　same　manner　that　an　umbrella　protects　an
individual　from　the　surf；　and　upon　lofty　mountains　they　exercise　a
marked　influence　upon　the　rainfall。　Should　the　summits　be　naked；　the
rocks　become　heated　to　a　high　degree；　and　should　clouds　pass　overhead；
the　vapour　would　not　condense；　but；　on　the　contrary；　it　might　disperse
upon　contact　with　the　heated　surface。　If　the　summits　were　clothed　with
forests；　the　rocks　and　soil；　being　shaded　from　the　sun；　would　remain
cool；　and　the　low　temperature　of　earth　and　foliage　would　condense　the
vapour　and　produce　rain。　It　is　well　known　that　trees　exert　a　direct
influence　upon　meteorological　phenomena；　therefore　should　forests　be
totally　destroyed；　a　change　may　be　expected　in　the　temperature；　attended
by　a　corresponding　decrease　in　the　rainfall。　It　is　obvious　that　should　a
country　be　entirely　covered　with　trees　and　jungle；　it　will　be　too　damp
and　unhealthy　for　the　occupation　of　man；　and　should　it　be　absolutely
barren　of　forest；　it　will　possess　a　minimum　rainfall；　therefore　in　all
countries　that　are　expected　to　develop　agricultural　resources；　the　due
proportions　of　woods　and　forests　require　special　attention。

In　ancient　days　there　can　be　no　question　that　Cyprus　was　rich　in　timber；
and　that　the　mountainous　districts　were　thickly　clothed　to　their　summits
with　valuable　wood　varying　in　species　according　to　altitude。　At　the　risk
of　repetition　I　must　describe　the　qualities　which　now　exist；　and　which
were　no　doubt　exported　from　the　island；　and　became　widely　known　and
appreciated　in　the　early　days　of　Cyprian　prosperity。

Oaks。There　are　several　varieties　of　oak；　but　large　park…like　timber　of
this　species　is　exceedingly　scarce；　and　although　met　with　occasionally
in　grand　spreading　trees　with　trunks　of　large　girth；　they　are　only
sufficient　to　prove　the　destruction　that　has　befallen　their　race。　It　is
most　probable　that　the　oak　was　largely　exported　for　ship…building；　but
as　an　available　forest…tree　it　may　be　said　to　have　disappeared。　The　ilex
is　the　most　common　of　all　woods　upon　the　Troodos　range　and　upon　other
mountains；　but　the　natives　have　made　such　constant　attacks　upon　this
quality　for　the　manufacture　of　charcoal　that　it　is　seldom　met　with　as　a
forest…tree。　It　is　extremely　hardy；　and　through　continual　hacking；　it
has　grown　into　dense　bushes　which　are　generally　about　eight　feet　high；
but　in　very　remote　localities　among　the　mountains　I　have　found　it　in　the
shape　of　timber　growing　to　the　height　of　forty　feet。　There　is　a　third
variety　with　a　prickly　leaf　resembling　holly；　of　an　intensely　dark
green。

Pines。I　have　only　met　with　three　varietiesthe　Pinus　maritima；　Pinus
laricio；　and　the　stone　pine。　The　latter　is　very　rare；　but　may　be　seen　at
Platraes。　The　natives　invariably　pick　the　cones　of　this　species　when
green　for　the　sake　of　the　small　edible　nuts　afforded　by　the　seeds。

The　Pinus　laricio　is　a　handsome　tree　with　a　dark　foliage　and　branches
that　droop　regularly　from　the　summit；　widening　towards　the　base。　It　is
difficult　to　determine　the　maximum　size　that　would　be　attained　by　this
species；　as　the　Cypriotes　seldom