cyprus, as i saw it in 1879-第56章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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　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