Long sleep, and the world should witness the
marvellous change between Cyprus when under Turks, and when transferred
to Englishmen. "Look upon that picture, and on this!" The officers of
our army were the magicians to effect this transformation, not only
strangers to the climate, language, laws, customs, people, but without
MONEY: as the island had been robbed of revenue by the conditions of the
Turkish Convention.
In spite of the many abuses which still exist, and which demand reform,
there could not be a more tangible proof of the general efficiency of
the officers of our army than the picture of Cyprus after the first
year's occupation. Although the government has been severely pinched for
means, and a season of cruel drought has smitten the agriculturists;
with commerce languishing through the uncertainty of our tenure, the
Cyprian population of all creeds and classes have already learned to
trust in the honour and unflinching integrity of British rulers, which
ensures them justice and has relieved them from their former oppressors.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE DISTRICT OF LIMASOL AND LANDOWNERS.
The port of Limasol will eventually become the chief commercial centre
of Cyprus, and in the depression of 1879 caused by drought and general
uncertainty it formed a favourable exception to the general rule. It may
be interesting to examine the position of the revenue during the years
inclusive from 1875 to 1878.
CUSTOMS.
Year. Revenue. Expenditure. Balance.
Piastres. Piastres. Piastres.
1875 964,839 164,663 800,176
1876 819,139 172,472 646,667
1877 1,340,643 169,506 1,171,137
1878 1,553,363 161,594 1,391,769
The exports from Limasol have been largely in excess of imports:--
Year Exports Year Imports
1875 77,022 1875 47,325
1876 59,895 1876 50,920
1877 93,805 1877 41,920
1878 101,457 1878 99,714
The principal articles of export from Limasol are wine and caroubs, and
the general production of these items has been as follows:--
Year. Okes. Year. Tons.
1875 Wine 4,811,732 1875 Caroubs 8,690
1876 " 3,710,884 1876 " 6,080
1877 " 2,208,617 1877 " 6,520
1878 " 5,795,109 1878 " 4,345
The different descriptions of wine and spirits produced in the
Limasol district during the last four years are as follows,
values in okes:--
Year. Raki or -------------------Wine.------------------
native brandy Commanderiea. Red Wine. Black Wine.
1875 467,711 173,946 85,008 4,056,067
1876 251,298 87,585 56,434 2,815,567
1877 181,269 45,522 38,563 1,943,290
1878 378,694 180,103 133,555 5,102,757
In the year 1878 the goods exported from Limasol may be approximately
represented by--
Cotton for Austria . . . . 10,000 okes valued at 500 pounds sterling.
Wool for France c. . . . . 9,500 okes valued at 560 pounds.
Rags for Italy . . . . . . 77,600 okes valued at 700 pounds.
Sumach in leaf for
Greece. . . . . 110,000 okes valued at 500 pounds.
Black wine for
Turkey. . . . 1,850,000 okes valued at 25,000 pounds.
Commanderia for
Austria . . . . 155,000 okes valued at 2,075 pounds.
Caroubs for
England, France,
Russia, and Italy . . . . 10,000 tons valued at 33,000 pounds.
Raisins for Austria,
France, and Turkey . . . . 90,000 okes valued at 850 pounds.
Skins for Greece . . . . . .9,800 okes valued at 1,025 pounds.
Sundries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . valued at 11,000 pounds.
Total value of exports. . . . . . . . . . . . . 75,210 pounds sterling.
The tobacco produced in the districts of Limasol and Baffo and at Lefka,
inclusive, is a mere trifle compared to the capabilities of the
island:--
In 1875 the crop amounted to 1,395 okes.
1876 " 1,280 "
1877 " 857 "
1878 " 1,731 "
This is only worth enumeration as an example of the utter insignificance
of the production, which should be an important item in the agricultural
wealth of the island. The greater portion of the tobacco consumed in
Cyprus is imported in bales from Salonica, and is consigned to
manufacturers who divide and classify the leaves, which are cut, and
formed into packets bearing the Custom House stamps, supplied upon
purchase. Limasol alone imports about 20,000 okes, which are forwarded
from Larnaca, where the duty is paid. No export duties of any
description are levied upon goods from this island.
The direct benefit to the Cypriotes conferred by the British occupation
was exhibited in the sudden rise of value both in real property and in
labour. The rental of houses within the principal towns was trebled, and
it would be difficult to establish an average price of land either in
towns, or upon the outskirts, as the prices demanded have been in most
instances fictitious, representing the desires of the seller, but in no
way verifying the actual selling value. I have only heard of a few small
plots that have changed hands at quadruple their former estimate, and as
a rule there are few buyers during this period of uncertainty respecting
the permanence of our occupation; but owners hold out in the hope of an
ultimate decision in favour of British absolute possession. In the town
of Limasol there has been a decided rise in the general value of
property, which is due to the steady improvement of the trade, and does
not represent a mere speculative impulse as in Larnaca, which has
suffered by a subsequent reaction. The municipal receipts of Limasol
have increased from 207 pounds sterling in the twelve months ending 30th
September, 1878, to 1718 pounds in the ten months of 1879. This has
certainly been due to the energy of Colonel Warren, R. A., the chief
commissioner of the district, to whom I am indebted for all statistics
connected with the locality.
The position of a district chief commissioner was by no means enviable
in Cyprus.
