HISTORY ETHNOGRAPHY NATURE WINE-MAKING SITE MAP
Selected and rare materials, excerpts and observations from ancient, medieval and contemporary authors, travelers and researchers about Cyprus.
 
 
 
 
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SIR SAMUEL WHITE BAKER
CYPRUS AS I SAW IT IN 1879
page 375

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clergy offer prayers for either rain or for fine weather. J In Cyprus the farmer places the small picture of the l Virgin upon his field, before which he lights his tapers, I which the wind extinguishes ; at the same time the I water-supply is close beneath his feet, and the expen-β diture of a few pounds sterling would produce a permanent blessing and uninterrupted prosperity by practical common sense and labour, without any miraculous interposition in his behalf. There are few countries where such facilities existe for irrigation, and the work should be commenced without delay. Should next year be one of drought' like the spring of 1879, the greatest misery will befall the population ; there is already sufficient disappoint-' ment in the want of progress since the British occupation, and the feeling will be intensified should the assistance of government be withheld in this crying, necessity of artificial irrigation. The Cypriote well-sinker is wonderfully clever in discovering springs, and I have already described the method of multiplying the water-power of one source by securing and concentrating the neighbouring sources. This work only requires money, and the inhabitants, without further assistance than loans secured by water-rate upon the district, will rapidly develop the | natural supply. There should be a special commission appointed, in each of the six districts of Cyprus, toj investigate and report officially upon this subject. In forming the commission, care should be takenj that the native element should predominate, and that no enthusiastic English engineer, blooming with newj schemes, should thrust into shadow the Cypriar intelligence upon the working of their own systems.) If I were an English engineer employed in any wort]

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