NATURAL PRODUCTS.
We will now give our readers a general sketch of the rise and decline
of Cyprian agriculture under different rulers.
For nearly three hundred years the dynasty of Lusignan ruled over
a flourishing and important country. Monks, knights, merchants,
and priests thronged to its hospitable shores, on their way to and
from adjoining countries, and many fair dames were conducted so
far, and found pleasant refuge in Cyprus, whilst their chivalrous
husbands journeyed farther east, to assist in the vain attempt to
obtain possession of the tomb of Christ, and earn either an early
grave, or return covered with wounds and glory. Towns sprang up in
all directions. Wine, oil, silk, cotton, the carob-tree (Ceratonia
siliqua), and the various plants used for the famous Cyprian dyes, were
again largely cultivated, and in the overflowing markets of the towns
upon the coast, ships in adjacent seas found the readiest means of
victualling for distant voyages. Mining operations were recommenced
with ardour, and Cyprian merchants again sent forth the rich products
of the island into all parts.
We have still to notice what was the fate of the island, under Venetian
and Turkish domination. The Venetians, anxious to derive every
possible emolument from their possessions, urged the population to
the most strenuous efforts, in the culture of the land, and when the
weary labourers sank under the burden and heat of the day, used every
incentive, and even punished them, in order to increase their exertions
in bringing their fields and gardens to the required perfection. There
is still a tradition in the island that the Venetians paid a zechin
for every olive-tree that was planted. Generation after generation,
however, the population degenerated, and became weaker and more idle.
The Venetians would appear to have considered the island in the light
of a great and valuable farm, which they endeavoured to make as
productive as possible. They appointed three governors, two treasurers,
a superintendent with two thousand men under him, placed a captain and
a company of soldiers in each of the twelve districts into which the
land was divided, who kept everything in order, and took care that the
fields and gardens were well cultivated, and the taxes regularly paid.
After deducting all expenses, Cyprus yielded to Venice a clear yearly
profit of two millions of ducats (golden dollars). The Italian revenue
officers seem not to have been much trusted in their dealings with the
Cypriotes, and were changed every two years.
When the Sultan of Egypt subsequently took Cyprus, the yearly tribute
exacted amounted to eight hundred thousand ducats (golden dollars);
it now produces only seven millions of marks, a very small sum, in
comparison with what it produced to its Venetian masters.
During the fifteenth century, the blighting influence of successive
wars was keenly felt, and the best energies of the Lusignans were
devoted to warding off the repeated attacks of the Mussulmans. Since
the New World had arisen in the West, strong and vigorous immigrants no
longer lent their aid to prop a declining state. The conquest of Cyprus
by the Turks cost the island the last remnant of its industrious,
enterprising, and independent inhabitants, and the bloodstained and
desolate country was no longer cultivated. The Turks, always passionate
admirers of flowers, introduced a few tulips and hyacinths, and planted
date-palms in the spots they occupied; but the soil was not congenial
to them, and in Cyprus the date-palm rarely produced its sweet and
highly-prized fruit.
The tobacco plant was also introduced at this period, but its
cultivation was never carried on to any great extent, owing to the
necessity of planting it in gardens surrounded by high walls, in order
to protect the plant from the depredations of the locust. No attempt
was made on the part of the Turkish Government to rouse the dying
energies of the people; slowly, but surely, every art and industry
declined, and the locust swarmed over the barren and neglected country.
Thus, in ancient times, we see that the island of Cyprus was celebrated
for its varied vegetation, but of the plants that once grew there, many
are totally lost, others are now cultivated with difficulty, and very
few new ones are added to the list. The vegetation of Cyprus, like its
history, seems to have undergone many changes, and from the nature of
the soil, is very diversified in different parts of the island. At the
present day, corn is still extensively cultivated; wheat, barley, oats,
and beans flourish well. Upon the mountains grow fir and pine-trees,
and in the valleys we find fine oaks, ashes, orange, fig, citron,
date, walnut, and a great variety of other trees. Overhanging shrubs
crowd the deep dells and precipitous cliffs, and amongst them grow the
oleander, myrtle, arbutus, juniper, and mastic. Not less striking is
the lovely carpet of flowers, which clothes the face of the country
with ever-varying beauties. Roses and jasmine, tulips, hyacinths,
narcissus, and anemones, are but a few of those that I might enumerate.
In Cyprus the use of manure is unknown, but nevertheless there is but
little change in the luxuriant fertility of the soil, and wherever the
earth is sufficiently supplied with moisture, a thousand plants spring
up in rich profusion. One of the principal difficulties in the field
is to keep the corn from being smothered by weeds. This task of weeding
falls entirely to the lot of the women.
Olive-trees were formerly very numerous, as is proved by the large
reservoirs for oil to be seen near Larnaka. The trade was at one time
very extensive, but the island now consumes all that it produces.
This decline would appear to date from the era of Venetian rule, when
the trade in oil was almost ruined, and the cultivation of the olive
abandoned for that of cotton. Saffron, rhubarb, and many other natural
and valuable productions are also neglected.
Cyprus had once a lucrative trade with Syria, in the oil extracted
from the seed of the jujube tree. Oil of glasswort was also formerly
extracted. Cucumis colocynth, from the pulp of which colocynth is made,
is also largely cultivated: this plant grows like the water-melon, and
belongs to the same family. The cotton-plant, which was formerly so
important a production, is now comparatively but little cultivated. The
seeds of the cotton-plant are sown early in April, three or four being
planted together, at equal distances. When the shoots appear above
the ground, the strongest plant alone is allowed to remain, the rest
being weeded out. The plants are hoed in June or July, and the cotton
collected in October and November. The cottons of Cyprus, which are of
four qualities, are much esteemed on account of their whiteness and
the thickness of their texture; a fifth quality, called scovazze, is
entirely consumed on the island. The total export of cotton in 1871 was
770,850 lbs.
During the time when the silk trade flourished, mulberry trees were
objects of most careful attention, and still abound upon the island.
The finest and whitest silk is now obtained from the neighbourhood of
Famagusta, and Karpasso; the lemon, or sulphur-coloured, comes from
Citereau, and most of the northern villages, whilst that made about
Baffo is of a golden colour.
The Greek females of some of the towns and villages work exquisite
embroidery, and make a kind of silk net, which will bear comparison
with the finest European lace. On the west side of the island the
peasants distil rose, orange, and lavender water, and myrtle and
ladanum oil.
Amongst the birds, snipe, pheasants, partridges, quails, and thrushes
are very abundant, as are also most of the birds of passage that make
Africa their home during the winter.
Until the commencement of the seventeenth century 150,000 kilderkins
of wine were annually produced; whilst at the beginning of the present
century, only a sixth part of that quantity was made. The manufacture
of wine has considerably increased in the last few years, but
principally for foreign consumption. The lower order of Cypriotes find
their wine too strong for their heads, and too dear for their pockets,
and drink little or none. The taxes upon wine are at present very
heavy.
The utilisation of the fruit of the island, as a means of profit is
now never thought of; even the celebrated vegetables of Cyprus are now
almost unknown, and the inhabitants content themselves with gathering
wild cresses, artichokes, purslane, and asparagus. The olive-tree,
however, as we have said, is still largely grown, cultivated we cannot
call it, as not only the planting, but the gathering the fruit, and
expressing the oil, are carried on in the most careless manner. Without
the olive, however, sorry indeed would be the fare of the Cypriotes.
Potatoes flourish in the mountainous districts and kolokasia in
low-lying regions. Melons, pumpkins, and gherkins are also found
in great profusion. During the last forty years, Greek and French
enterprise has made various efforts to bring about a better state of
things. What may not now be hoped for when this luxuriant island is
again under a paternal dominion and the safety of individual rights
secured?
At all times, snakes, which, however, are not dangerous, tarantulas,
and venomous spiders abounded in the island, and Dr. Clarke gives a
forcible description of its insect pests. Speaking of the tarantula,
he describes one species of about an inch long, as having “a body of
bright yellow, and beset with long and prickly hairs. It runs with
prodigious swiftness, and thus more easily escapes its destruction,
in which mankind are interested; its bite being very dangerous, and
its venom very subtle. The parts which are attacked by it swell in
an instant, and occasion excessive pain, followed by death if certain
remedies be not speedily applied.”
The cultivation of the sugar-cane is now quite unknown in Cyprus, and
the cotton-plant is only grown in a few districts.
It has been erroneously stated that the natives will not touch the
flesh of the ox, from the idea that it would be cruel to eat the
companion of their labours. Numerous small, but fat cattle are fed
on the plains, and their beef enjoyed as much by the Cypriote as by
an Englishman. Great numbers of sheep and goats are also reared. The
mutton is juicy and tender.