cyprus, as i saw it in 1879-第66章

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offerings　in　church　while　they　officiate；　and　from　various　ordination
fees　and　marriage　licences。　From　the　inquiries　I　made　in　various
dependable　quarters；　the　bishops　are　not　generally　beloved　either　by　the
monks；　priests；　or　public；　but　this　absence　of　appreciation　may　be　due
to　the　continual　demands　upon　the　funds　of　monasteries　and　the　pockets
of　the　peasantry；　more　than　to　any　personal　peculiarities　of　character。
There　are　stories　of　neglect　of　duty　and　misappropriation　of　funds
intended　for　charitable　purposes；　which　I　should　decline　to　believe
possible　among　ecclesiastics　of　such　devout　principles　and　high
position。　The　Archbishop　is　much　beloved；　and　is　loudly　praised　by　all
classes　of　the　inhabitants；　to　whom　he　owes　his　election　as　supreme　head
of　the　Church　after　the　following　manner：…

In　the　event　of　death；　the　vacant　see　of　Cyprus　is　represented　by　the
Bishop　of　Baffo；　and　the　new　archbishop　must　be　elected　by　the　people。
The　bishop　occupies　the　position　of　president　of　an　ecclesiastical
council；　to　which　representatives　are　sent　from　every　district；　charged
with　the　votes　of　the　inhabitants　in　favour　of　the　archbishop。　Upon　his
election；　the　approval　and　confirmation　of　his　appointment　must　be
obtained　by　an　imperial　decree　before　the　archbishop　can　officiate。　In
the　same　manner　every　bishop　is　elected　by　the　people　of　the　district；
and　their　representatives　are　sent　to　Nicosia；　where　the　archbishop
presides　over　his　council；　or　court；　but　the　new　bishop　must　also　be
confirmed　in　his　position　by　an　imperial　decree。

Should　an　archbishop　be　guilty　of　any　crime；　either　civil　or
ecclesiastical；　he　may　be　deposed　by　the　head　of　the　Church　at
Constantinople；　acting　in　conjunction　with　the　Turkish　government；　at
the　request　of　the　inhabitants　of　Cyprus。

Bishops　may　be　deposed　by　the　archbishop；　who　would　in　such　a　case
assemble　the　Synod；　composed　of　the　heads　of　clergy　in　his　presidency。
Before　this　tribunal　a　bishop　would　be　summoned　to　appear　in　case　of　an
accusation；　and　the　trial　would　take　place　in　open　court；　the　power　of
punishment　or　absolution　remaining　in　the　hands　of　the　archbishop。

The　Turkish　government　appears　to　have　held　a　peculiar　position　in
relation　to　the　Greek　Church　in　Cyprus；　as；　although　acting　in
conjunction　and　in　harmony　with　the　customs　of　the　inhabitants；　it
reserved　the　right　of　supreme　authority　in　special　cases；　thus　at
various　epochs　the　Turkish　government　deposed　the　Archbishops
Chrissanthon　and　Panareton；　hanged　the　Archbishop　Kipriano；　and　banished
the　Archbishops　Joachim　and　Damaskino。

From　the　universal　complaints；　there　can　be　little　doubt　that　the
schools　that　should　be　established　from　funds　specially　invested　for
that　purpose　in　the　hands　of　certain　monasteries；　bishops；　&c。；　are
grossly　neglected；　and　it　has　already　been　suggested　that　a　commission
should　be　instituted　by　the　British　authorities；　under　the　presidency　of
the　archbishop；　for　a　rigid　investigation　of　the　resources　of　all
monasteries　and　the　ACTUAL　revenue　of　bishoprics；　together　with　the
disbursement　of　all　sums　that　should　have　been　expended　either　for
education　or　for　charitable　purposes。

The　tithes　exacted　by　the　bishops　from　the　peasantry　add　seriously　to
the　imposts　of　ordinary　taxation；　and　there　is　every　probability　of　a
reform　being　demanded　by　the　inhabitants　at　the　hands　of　the　British
administration。　When　under　Turkish　rule；　the　Greek　Church　enjoyed　not
only　perfect　freedom；　but　an　immunity　from　taxation；　as；　although　they
were　legally　liable；　the　law　was　never　enforced　upon　the　clergy。　The
English　government　has　determined　upon　the　observance　of　all　laws　by　all
classes；　and　the　Church　has　awakened　to　the　fact　that　there　is　no
exception。

〃From　the　earliest　times　the　Greek　Church　of　Cyprus　has　enjoyed　an
especial　degree　of　independence；　in　the　reign　of　the　Emperor　Zeno；　A。D。
473；　exceptional　privileges　were　conceded　to　the　Archbishop　of　Cyprus；
who；　although　he　owns　the　supremacy　of　the　Patriarch　of　Constantinople
over　the　orthodox　Greek　Church；　claims　to　be　entirely　independent　of　him
as　regards　Church　discipline；　he　wears　purple；　carries　a　gold…headed
sceptre；　has　the　title　of　Beatitude；　signs　in　red　as　the　Greek　Emperors
were　wont　to　do；　and　uses　a　seal　bearing　a　two…headed　imperial　eagle。　It
is　said　that　these　dignities　were　conferred　in　consequence　of　the
fortunate　discovery　at　Salamis　of　the　body　of　St。　Barnabas；　with　a　copy
of　the　Gospel　of　St。　Matthew；　which　precious　relic　was　sent　to
Constantinople；　and　in　return　the　Emperor　confirmed　the　Church　of　Cyprus
in　its　absolute　independence；　and　gave　the　archbishop　the　above
privileges。〃*　（*Savile's　Cyprus；　p。　142。）

St。　Paul　and　St。　Barnabas　visited　the　island　A。D。　45；　and　the　conversion
of　Sergius　Paulus；　the　proconsul　at　Paphos；　by　their　preaching；　was　the
first　seed　of　Christianity　implanted　in　Cyprus　at　the　period　when　the
inhabitants　were　steeped　in　heathenism；　but　some　of　the　superstitions　at
present　existing　are　hardly　less　degrading　than　pagan　rites；　and　in　the
kissing　of　the　Virgin's　cave　at　Trooditissa　for　the　purpose　already
described；　we　can　trace　an　affinity　with　the　ancient　worship　of　Venus。



CHAPTER　XVIII。

ON　POLICE；　FOOD；　CLIMATE；　&C。

The　population　of　Cyprus　is　about　200；000；　of　which　number　more　than
three…fourths　belong　to　the　Greek　Church；　nevertheless　the　minority　of
Turks　completely　dominated　prior　to　the　British　occupation。　Although　the
Cypriote　is；　as　I　have　described；　courteous；　gentle；　and　affectionate　in
his　domestic　circle；　he　is　at　the　same　time　cunning　and　addicted　to
petty　larceny；　and　in　all　your　dealings　with　these　apparently　easy…going
people　you　must　exercise　the　same　acuteness　that　is　so　absolutely
necessary　in　England。　There　are　few　great　crimes　in　proportion　to　the
population；　nor　do　we　ever　hear　of　such　atrocities　as　those　classes　of
murders　which　so　frequently　blacken　the　page　of　our　modern　history。
Homicide　is　more　common　than　actual　murder；　and　is　often　the　result　of　a
sudden　quarrel　where　knives　are　drawn；　and　a　fatal　stab　in　passion
constitutes　the　offence。　Sheep…stealing　is　the　prevalent　crime；　and　is
carried　on　with　an　amount　of　hardihood　that　can　only　be　accounted　for
from　the　difficulty　of　proof。　The　flocks　of　goats；　&c。；　roam　over　the
wild　and　uninhabited　area　of　the　high　mountains　and　frequently　stray
from　the　shepherd　and　are　lost　for　two　or　three　nights；　by　the　time　they
are　recovered　a　certain　number　may　be　missing；　and　it　is　hardly　possible
to　discover　the　thief；　as　the　animals　have　been　driven　to　a　great
distance。　Tracking　would　be　out　of　the　question　over　the　rocky　surface；
where　every　small　plot　of　naked　soil　is　trodden　into　countless　footmarks
by　the　innumerable　goats　which　browse　upon　the　mountain　slopes。　At　night
the　flocks　are　generally　herded　within　a　circle　protected　by　a　fence　of
thorny　bushes；　sometimes　these　folds　are　invaded　by　thieves　during　the
darkness；　and　a　considerable　number　are　driven　off。　As　the　locality
would　be　generally　distant　from　the　principal　town；　and　the　shepherd
cannot　forsake　his　flock　for　several　days　to　prosecute；　the　thieves
frequently　escape；　and　this　immunity　encourages　them　to　further
depredations。　During　my　residence　within　the　precincts　of　the　monastery；
the　fold　upon　the　hill　within　a　quarter　of　a　mile　of　the　establishment
was　thus　robbed；　and　the　thieves　were　never　discovered。

The　police　or　zaphtiehs　are　generally　too　far　from　these　wild　localities
to　be　of　any　service；　and　they　are　at　present　too　few　for　the　proper
supervision　of　the　island。　A　plan　is　I　believe　in　contemplation　to
extend　this　body　upon　a　scale　that　will　render　the　force　efficient　as　a
gendarmerie；　which　would　to　a　considerable　degree　relieve　the　necessity
for　a　permanent　European　military　force。　There　can　be　no　better　soldier
than　the　Turk　under　British　officers。　The　Christians　in　Cyprus　have　an
objection　to　this　service；　and　there　is　no　reason　why　a　military　force
to　combine　the　duties　of　police　should　not　be　organised；　that　would　be
thoroughly　acclimatised；　and　would　at　the　same　time　be　maintained　for
less　than　half　the　expense　of　English　troops。　There　is　nothing　to　fear
from　the　Turkish　population　in　Cyprus；　and　they　would　willingly　enlist
in　our　service；　and　could　always　be　depended　upon　in　case　of　necessity。
The　force　already　organised　is　an　admirable　nucleus；　and　could　be
rapidly　increased；　each　man　finds　his　own　horse　and　receives　two
shillings　a　day　inclusive；　his　clothes　and　arms　being　provided　by　the
government。　For　service　in　the　trying　climate　of　Cyprus　the　Turk　is
pre…eminent。　I　do　not　see　any　need　for　the　presence　of　British　troops　in
this　island。　The　fortresses　are　all　dismantled；　the　natives　are
peaceful；　and　the　extremely　low　price　of　wine　and　spirits　is　terribly
adverse　to　the　sanitary　condition　of　the　English　soldier。　The　staunch
sobriety　of　the　Turk；　his　extreme　hardihood；　which　enables　him　to　endure
great　fatigue　upon　the　most　simple　fare；　and　his　amenity　to　discipline；
together　with　an　instinctive　knowledge　of　arms　and　a　natural　capacity
for　a　military　profession；　render　him　a　valuable　material　for　our
requirements　in　organising　a　defensive　force　in　Cyprus。　Should　it　be
determined　that　a　certain　number　of　British　troops　shall　be　retained；
they　can　be　spared　unnecessary　exposure；　and　retire　to　the　mountain
sanatorium　during　the　summer　months。

The　wages　of　both　artisans　and　ordinary　labourers　have　risen
considerably　since　the　British　occupation；　as　might　have　been　expected。
Skilled　masons　and　carpenters　can　now　command　from　3　shillings　6　pence
to　5　shillings　per　diem；　who　formerly　could　earn　a　maximum　of　3
shillings。　Ordinary　masons　for　building　walls　can　even　now　be　obtained
for　2　shillings　6　pence　and　3　shillings；　and　agricultural　labourers
receive　1　shilling。　It　is　probable　that　should　extensive　government
improvements　be　undertaken；　or　large　contracts　be　made　by　private
individuals　for　public　works；　the　rate　will　rise　from　one　shilling　to
eighteen　pence；　as　the　demand　for　labour　shall　increase。　Should　schools
be　established　and　education　become　general　throughout　the　island；　the
result　will　probably　be　exhibited　by　a　corresponding　advance　in　wages；
as　individuals　will　estimate　their　value　at　a　higher　rate。　At　present
there　is　no　organised　system　of　education　for　the　peasantry；　and　the　few
schools　are　confined　to　Nicosia；　Larnaca；　Limasol；　Baffo；　and　Morphu；
all　of　which　are　supported　by　original　grants；　voluntary　contributions；
the　payments　of　pupils；　and　by　certain　sums　annually　provided　by　the
bishops　and　monasteries。

The　rate　of　wages　should　in　all　countries　bear　a　just　proportion　to　the
price　of　food；　and　should　the　habits　of　the　Cypriotes　remain　unchanged；
and　their　diet　retain　its　simple　character；　there　is　no　reason　to
anticipate　a　rate　that　would　eventually　exceed　10　shillings　or　11
shillings　a　week。　If　we　determine　upon　low　wages；　we　must　keep　down　the
price　of　food。　The　Turkish　administration　had　peculiar　municipal　laws
upon　this　subject　which　are　still　in　force　in　some　localities；　but　have
been　abrogated　in　Limasol。　I　have　already　mentioned　that　the　price　of
meat　was　fixed　at　a　ce