cyprus, as i saw it in 1879-第77章

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saleable　as　raisins：　this　is　not　the　case。　Raisins　are　not　merely　dried
grapes；　as　is　generally　supposed；　but　the　bunch　of　well…ripened　berries
is　dipped　in　a　strong　solution　of　potash；　and　is　then　either　suspended
or　is　more　generally　laid　upon　a　mat　to　dry。　In　Cyprus　the　growers
seldom　purchase　potash；　but　they　dip　their　grapes　in　a　ley　produced　from
the　ashes　of　certain　woods。

The　vineyards　at　this　season　are　swarming　with　a　species　of　beccaficos；
and　the　population　are　busy　in　catching　these　delicious　birds　with
sticks　smeared　with　bird…lime。　It　is　a　species　of　finch；　a　little　larger
than　the　chaffinch；　the　plumage　a　brownish　grey；　when　plucked　the　body
is　much　larger　than　the　common　beccaficos；　but　resembles　it　in
extraordinary　fatness　and　delicacy　of　flavour。　The　natives　preserve　them
by　boiling　in　commanderia　wine；　and　they　are　highly　appreciated。　These
must　be　added　to　the　migratory　birds　of　Cyprus。

The　acorns　are　nearly　ripe；　and　I　am　assured　by　the　monks　that　even
these　insignificant　productions　pay　a　tax　of　6d。　per　kilo　（about　32
lbs。）；　and　the　crop　is　valued　accordingly　by　the　special　authority。
There　are　three　varieties　of　large　timber　oaks　in　addition　to　the　ilex
and　the　prickly　holly…leaved　oak。　The　acorns　of　the　ilex　and　holly…
leaved　species　are　small；　but　those　of　the　three　superior　species　vary
in　size；　all　being　much　larger　than　those　of　England；　while　one　variety
measures　nearly　three　inches　in　length。　This　is　used　as　food；　with　no
other　preparation　than　simple　roasting；　and　is　considered　to　be　superior
to　chestnuts。　The　Ancient　Britons　used　the　acorn　as　an　article　of　food；
and　probably　it　was　ground　into　flour　after　the　bitter　principle　had
been　extracted　by　soaking　in　running　water；　in　the　same　manner　that　many
varieties　of　wild　yams　are　treated　by　the　natives　in　Africa。　In　addition
to　the　use　of　the　acorn　as　a　substitute　for　chestnuts　by　the　Cypriotes；
the　large　species　when　roasted　black　makes　excellent　coffee　without　any
admixture　of　the　real　berry。　All　the　varieties　can　be　used　for　this
purpose；　but　that　already　named　is　preferred　as　superior　in　flavour。　The
English　poor　are　not　clever　in　adaptation；　and　are　known　to　be　strong　in
prejudices　respecting　articles　of　diet；　but　it　appears　strange　that　the
use　of　the　acorn　has　been　entirely　neglected　as　an　aid　to　the　bulk　of
pure　coffee；　which　would　effect　a　considerable　saving　in　the　household；
if　the　adulteration　took　place　at　home。

A　few　days　ago　I　was　conversing　with　the　old　monk　upon　the　question　of
〃Chittim　wood；〃　and　I　suggested　my　own　theory；　〃that　Solomon　required
the　highly…scented　cypress　of　this　island〃　（for　the　Temple。）　My
venerable　informant　declared　〃that　a　wood　exists　to　this　day　in　Cyprus
which　is　supposed　to　be　the　original　species　referred　to　in　Scripture；
this　is　a　pine　which　is　only　found　upon　the　mountains　between　Kyku　and
Khrysokhus。　The　grain　and　surface　when　planed　are　exceedingly　close　and
smooth；　and　the　timber　is　strong　and　durable；　far　exceeding　in　quality
all　other　varieties。〃　The　native　name　for　this　tree　is　Kandro。　I　have
sent　a　monk　to　gather　the　cones　of　this　tree；　which　I　shall　send　to
England　for　seed；　together　with　a　sample　of　the　foliage。

Sincerely　yours；
Samuel　W。　Baker。

Sept。　24；　1879。

P。S。　My　messenger　has　just　returned　with　a　branch　and　cones　of　the　tree；
which　is　only　found　upon　the　mountains　between　Kyku　and　Khrysokhus。
There　is　no　longer　a　doubt。　It　is　a　beautiful　species　of　Cedar。

S。　W。　B。







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