cyprus, as i saw it in 1879-第59章
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miserable condition。
〃On the tenth day； by order of Mustafa； Bragadino
was brought out of prison and made to carry earth
for the repair of the fortifications during several hours；
after which； more dead than alive； the heroic soldier
was tied to a stake； and； in the presence of the ferocious
Mustafa； was flayed alive。 His skin； stuffed with hay；
was sent with the heads of the other three Venetians
as presents to the Sultan。〃
The two most important conquests of Cyprus have thus commenced from the
port of Limasol； which is destined to become of primary importance as
the great commercial representative town of this now poor island。
We remained sixteen days at Limasol； during which time we had the
pleasure of the society of Colonel and Mrs。 Warren and their young
family； which we thoroughly appreciated after the exile from civilised
life and ladies since we had quitted Kyrenia and Lefkosia。 The leading
officials and some Greek merchants of the town were good enough to call
frequently； and kindly afforded much information； at the same time they
did not conceal their disappointment at the terms of the occupation；
which； by draining the island of its revenue； completely paralysed the
good intentions of the English government； the best resolutions being
valueless unless supported by the necessary capital。
Although I received every politeness from the inhabitants； who appeared
to think I had some official mission； it was not difficult to trace a
general tone of complaint and dissatisfaction； which was perfectly
natural under the existing regime。 Although nothing could exceed the
pains taken by Sir Garnet Wolseley and all his officials to introduce
reforms for the general welfare of the people； the task was simply
impossible where various interests were conflicting； and no HYBRID
government could at once destroy existing abuses and at the same time
establish laws suitable to all classes。 This general reform required an
independent administration； untrammelled by mongrel relations with the
Turk； and equally free from the vexatious labyrinths of English
jurisprudence。 I do not wish to catalogue the long list of grievances
which have been entrusted to my unwilling ears； but there are some which
are so utterly destructive to the interests of the country and the
government； that I have no hesitation in describing them。
The great trade of Limasol is wine； as the district exhibits the
industry first encouraged by the Venetians； this； as the great
money…producing cultivation； opposed to Mussulman prejudices； has been
burdened with extortionate taxation and restrictions； which have not yet
been relieved by the British administration。
CHAPTER X。
THE WINE DISTRICT OF LIMASOL。
In the fifteenth century the Cyprian vines were selected for the now
celebrated vineyards of Madeira； nothing can better exemplify the
standard of industry and consequent prosperity than the vine； when we
regard the identical plant in the hands of the Portuguese and in its
original home in Cyprus under the Turkish administration。 The first
historical notice of the vine occurs when Noah； stranded upon Mount
Ararat； took advantage； upon the first subsidence of the waters； to
plant a vineyard； and； according to the curt biblical description； it
grew； produced； and the wine intoxicated the proprietor； all within a
few days。 It may not have occurred to the wine trade that this biblical
fact proves that the consumption of wine had been among the first
assumed necessities of the human race； if Noah's first impulse upon
landing suggested the cultivation of the vine； he was restoring to the
world a plant that had been considered so absolutely important that he
must have provided himself with either buds or cuttings in great
quantities when he selected his animals for the Ark BEFORE the Deluge。
If this is true； the use of wine must have been pre…historical； and its
abuse historical； the two purposes having continued to the present day。
It may therefore be acknowledged that no custom has been so universal
and continuous as the drinking of wine from the earliest period of human
existence。 The vine is a mysterious plant； it is so peculiarly sensitive
that； like a musical instrument which produces harmony or discord at the
hands of different performers； the produce of the same variety is
affected by the soil upon which the plants are grown。 Thus ten thousand
young vines may be planted upon one mountain； all of the same stock； but
various qualities of wine will be produced； each with a special
peculiarity of flavour； according to the peculiarities of soil。 The same
estate； planted with the same vines； may produce high class wines and
others that would hardly command a market； if the soil varies according
to the degrees of certain localities。 It would now be impossible to
produce Madeira wine in Cyprus； although the plants might be imported
and cultivated with the greatest attention。 When the vines were shipped
from Cyprus and planted in Madeira during the rule of the Venetians； it
must not be supposed that those vines had ever produced wine of the
well…known Madeira flavour and quality； that flavour was the result of
some peculiarity in the soil of the new country to which the vines had
been transplanted； and there can be little doubt that the rich and
extremely luscious variety known in Cyprus as 〃Commanderia〃 was the
parent vine of the Madeira vineyards。
It is well known that the costly experiments of a century at the Cape of
Good Hope have verified the fact that the vine is the slave of certain
conditions of soil； which impart to this extremely delicate and
sensitive plant a special flavour that is incorporated with the wine；
and can never be eradicated。 The vines of the Cape； although of infinite
variety； produce wines with a family taint which is a flavour absorbed
from the soil。 Any person who knows Constantia； the luscious wine of the
Cape of Good Hope； will at once detect the soupcon of that flavour in
every quality of wine produced in the colony。 It may therefore be
accepted that the flavour of wines depends upon the soil； thus it would
be impossible for a vine…grower to succeed simply by planting well…
known superior varieties of vines； unless he has had practical
experience of the locality to be converted into vineyards。
This fact is thoroughly exhibited in Cyprus； where the peculiarities of
soils are exceedingly remarkable； and cannot fail to attract attention；
each of these qualities of earth producing a special wine。
If a planter establishes a vineyard he will naturally select a certain
variety of vine； and a corresponding situation that will ensure a
marketable quantity of wine； thus in Cyprus a comparatively small area
of the island is devoted to the cultivation of the grape； which is
comprised chiefly within the district of Limasol。 No wine is made in the
Carpas district； nor to the north of the Carpasian range of jurassic
limestone； there are no vineyards of importance in the western district；
or yet in the plain of Messaria； except upon the western border； in the
neighbourhood of Dali； towards the Makhaeras mountain。
Although there are many varieties of Cyprus wines； there is one
prevailing rule： the white commanderia； a luscious high…flavoured wine；
is grown upon the reddish chocolate…coloured soil of metamorphous rocks。
The dark red； or black astringent wines； are produced upon the white
marls and cretaceous limestone。 The quantity produced is large； and the
dark wines can be purchased retail in the villages for one penny the
quart bottle！and in my opinion are very dear at the money。
According to the official returns kindly supplied to me by Mr。 Robson；
the chief of customs； the following list represents the declared
duty…paid production from 1877 to 1879。
Spirits Commanderia Black Wines
Okes 2。75 lbs。 Okes 2。75 lbs。 Okes 2。75 lbs。
1877…1878。 。 155；451 117；000 2；500；000
1878…1879。 。 430；000 300；000 6；000；000
Spirit is valued at about 2。5 Piastres the Oke
Commanderia 〃 〃
