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but I observed with the telescope that every inch off ground that could be cultivated was green with) barley, even to extreme heights which appeared inac-1 cessible. Small terraces had been arranged by heaping^ up stones among the numerous declivities to save the soil from falling below, and to catch the wash that! might be added by some passing shower. This was. the result of enormous labour, far disproportioned to| the value of the crops ; yet in the face of this perilous} industry there are persons who declare that the Cypriotes are an idle race, and that " land exists in superabundant acreage sufficient for double the amount! of population. " If this theory is correct the Cypriotes,; who climb to these dizzy heights to build some wallsi among the precipices that will act as an agricultural] trap to catch some few square yards of soil, must bejj simply madmen ; but I have not found them wantingi either in brains or industry when working ' independently for their own profit ; where they are positively! wanting, is in ready money. All strangers who take ait interest in agriculture must be struck with the extra-j ordinary pains taken by the natives to save the soif from water-wash, to which I have already alluded ; butì this peculiarity is the more striking when we observe^ the dangerous positions to which they have beenj driven by a desire to increase their lands. In a ride from our camp to St. Hilarion I carefully! remarked throughout the extremely rugged nature oijj the route that no plot, however minute, had been neglected. In one rocky nook buried among the cliffs was a little cottage, with hanging gardens all terraced by exceedingly high walls, yet affording thei smallest superficial area for cultivation. This is discernible with a powerful telescope from the base,

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