第 26 节
作者:双曲线      更新:2022-04-14 11:08      字数:9322
  for cultivation; far away from the eyes of all authorities。
  I believe that squatting has been carried on for many years; as during
  the Turkish administration a trifling annual present would have closed
  the eyes of the never…too…zealous official who by such an oversight
  could annually improve his pay。 Land suitable for cultivation cannot
  possibly be in excess of the demand; when plots of only a few yards
  square are carefully formed by the erection of stone walls to retain the
  torrent…collected soil。
  We were pestered with beggars throughout this district; and even the
  blind saw their opportunity; their number was distressing; and they
  could not account in any way for the prevalence of ophthalmia。 Some
  endeavoured to explain the cause by referring it to the bright
  reflection from the sea; to which they were so frequently exposed; I
  assured them that sailors were seldom blind; and they proved the rule。
  Dirty habits; dwellings unwashed; heaps of filth lying around their
  houses and rotting in their streets; all of which during the hot dry
  summer is converted into poisonous dust; and; driven by the wind; fills
  the eyes; which are seldom cleansedthese are the natural causes which
  result in ophthalmia。
  The new camels were ready; and with six of these animals we left
  Gallibornu and felt relieved to have parted with the carts; as for
  several marches they had caused great delay and inconvenience。 Although
  Theodori had deceived me by agreeing to conduct us direct to Cape St。
  Andrea I did not like to discharge the thick…headed but innocent Georgi;
  therefore I offered to pay them a certain sum which they themselves
  named; per day; for the keep of their oxen; provided they should return
  with their empty carts to Lithrankomi (one march) and await my return
  there; after which; we would resume the original contract; and their
  oxen would once more draw the vans from their station at Kuklia。
  This was an extra expense; as the camels were now engaged in lieu of
  carts; notwithstanding that I should have to pay for the oxen; on the
  other hand; these animals were beautiful specimens of their kind; and
  were thoroughly accustomed to the gipsy…van; therefore it was advisable
  to retain them。 The two owners were delighted with the arrangement; and
  we started for Cape St。 Andrea; while they were to return to
  Lithrankomi。
  The country was now thoroughly enjoyable; the recent daily showers had
  freshened all vegetation; and the earth was a carpet of wild flowers;
  including scarlet ranunculus; poppies; a very pretty dwarf yellow cistus
  resembling bunches of primroses; cyclamen; narcissus; anemonespurple;
  white; and a peculiarly bright yellow variety。
  The route from Gallibornu was extremely wild and picturesque; combining
  hills; glens; and occasional short glimpses of the sea between the
  gorges which cleft the precipitous range upon our right。 The rounded and
  sparkling tops of gypsum hills were common for the first few miles;
  emerging from these; we threaded a ravine; and arrived upon the sea
  beach; and continued for a considerable distance upon the margin of the
  shore; the animals scrambling over fallen rocks and alternately
  struggling through the deep sand and banks of sea…weed piled by a
  recent gale。 We now entered upon the first pure sandstone that I had
  seen; this was a coffee…brown; and formed the substratum of the usual
  sedimentary limestone which capped the surface of the hill…tops。 The
  appearance was peculiar; as the cliffs of brown sandstone were crusted
  for a depth of about eight or ten feet by the white rock abounding with
  fossil shells; while the substratum of hard sand was perfectly devoid of
  all traces of organic matter。 The upheaval of a sea…bottom was clearly
  demonstrated。 As the sandstone had decayed; vast fragments of the
  surface rock had broken down when undermined and had fallen to the base
  of the steep inclines; from the interstices of which a dense growth of
  evergreens produced an agreeable harmony of colouring; combining various
  shades of green with brown cliffs and white masses of disjointed
  limestone。 The deep blue of the sea was a beautiful addition to this
  wild scenery; and after threading our way sometimes between narrow
  gorges; at other places along sequestered glens which exhibited young
  crops of cereals and cultivated olive…trees; we at length arrived at a
  halting…place upon the seashore; where a well of excellent water about
  ten feet from the surface had been sunk upon the sea…beach within fifty
  yards of the waves。
  This was the best camping…ground we had had in Cyprus; for the first
  time we stood upon real turf; green with recent showers; and firmly
  rooted upon a rich sandy loam。 A cultivated valley lay a few hundred
  yards beyond us; completely walled in by high hills covered with wild
  olives; arbutus; and dwarf…cypress; and fronted by the sea。 Some fine
  specimens of the broad…headed and shady caroub…trees gave a park…like
  appearance to the valley; through which a running stream entered from a
  ravine among the hills; and; winding through deep banks covered with
  myrtles and oleanders; expended itself upon the shingly beach in the
  centre of the bay。 This sheltered cove; about 300 yards across the chord
  of the arc; formed rather more than a semicircle by the natural
  formation of the coast; and was further improved by a long reef of hard
  sandstone; which extended from either point like an artificial
  breakwater。
  At first sight the little bay was a tempting refuge; but upon closer
  examination I observed ominous dark patches in the clear water; which
  betokened dangerous reefs; and other light green portions that denoted
  sandy shallows。 The cove is useful for the native small craft; but would
  be unsuitable to vessels of more than seven feet draught of water。 I had
  observed that francolins were more numerous since we had arrived upon
  the sandstone formation; and the cock birds were calling in all
  directions; the locality was so inviting that we felt inclined to remain
  for a few days in such a delightful spot; but the season was too far
  advanced for shooting; and I therefore confined myself to killing only
  what was absolutely necessary for our food; and I invariably selected
  the cock…birds of francolins。 I do not think these birds pair like the
  partridge; but I believe the cock is polygamous; like the pheasant; as I
  generally found that several hens were in his neighbourhood。 It is a
  beautiful game bird; the male possessing a striking plumage of deep
  black and rich brown; with a dark ring round the neck。 It is quite a
  different variety to the mottle…breasted species that I have met with in
  Mauritius; Ceylon; and the double…spur francolin that I have shot in
  Africa。 It is considerably larger than the common partridge; but not
  quite so heavy as the red…legged birds of Cyprus; although when flying
  it appears superior。 The flesh is white and exceedingly delicate; and it
  is to be regretted that so valuable a game bird is not introduced into
  England。 I generally found the francolin in the low scrub; although I
  have often shot it either in the cultivated fields or in the wild
  prickly low plants upon the open ground which have been misnamed
  heather。 The habits of this bird have nothing in common with those of
  the red…legged partridge; as it is never found upon the bare rocky
  hill…sides; which are the general resort of the latter annoying species;
  and although the scrub bush may contain both; there is a marked
  difference in their character。 The red…leg is a determined runner; and
  therefore a bad game bird for the shooter; as it will run ahead when
  first disturbed and rise far beyond shot range; instead of squatting
  like the grey partridge and permitting a sporting shot。 The francolin is
  never found upon the bare hill…sides; neither is it a runner in the
  open; although it will occasionally trouble the dogs in the bush by
  refusing to rise until they have followed it for some distance;
  precisely as pheasants will run in covert until halted by the 〃stops〃 or
  by a net。 I am not sure of the power of resistance to cold possessed by
  the francolins; as they are seldom met with upon the higher mountains in
  Cyprus; but are generally found upon the inferior altitudes and low
  grounds: still the hazel…huhn of Austria is a species of francolin which
  resists the intense cold of a central…European winter。
  Only one march remained to the extreme eastern limit of Cyprus; Cape St。
  Andrea; distant fourteen miles。 The country was exactly similar to that
  which we had recently passed through; and although alike; it could
  hardly be called monotonous; as the eye was never fatigued。 The few
  inhabitants were poor to the last degree; the dwellings were mere
  hovels。 We passed deep holes in the ground; the sides of which were
  baked by fire; so as to resemble earthen jars about ten feet deep and
  seven in diameter; with a small aperture; these were subterranean
  granaries; the sure sign of insecurity before the British occupation。
  The flat…topped hovels had the usual roofs of clay and chopped straw;
  and projected two or three feet as eaves beyond the walls; which were of
  stone and mud; exhibiting the crudest examples of masonry。 The
  projecting e