Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

History.

Cyprus was colonized by Phoenicians, Egyptians, and Greeks. Its ancient history is too long and eventful to be here related even in outline. When the Roman Empire was divided into east and west, Cyprus fell into the Eastern Empire, and was governed by lieutenants of the Byzantine Emperors until 1191, when Richard I of England occupied the island to chastise the ruler, Isaac Comnenus, for the ill-treatment of the English fleet. Richard sold the island in 1192 to the Templars, but as they could not govern it, the king made it over to Guy de Lusignan, who claimed to be King or formerly King of Jerusalem, and undertook the obligations of the Templars. The island was ruled by the Lusignan family from 1192 until 1489, when Queen Catarina Cornaro, herself a Venetian and widow of James II, having survived her husband and his posthumous son, James III, yielded the government of the island to the Republic of Venice. Venice ruled the island until 1570-71, when the Ottoman Turks invaded it, and captured and put to the sword the Venetian garrisons.

The island remained under the government of the Sultans of Constantinople from 1571 until 1878, with the exception of the period from 1832 to 1840, when it was held by the Pasha of Egypt, then at war with the Porte. It may be observed that the island was frequently invaded by the Arabs, Saracens, and Egyptians before its final conquest by the Turks, and that from 1425 to 1571, it paid tribute to Egypt. The great fortress and port of Famagusta was held by the Genoese Republic from 1373 until 1464, when the Lusignan king, James II, retook it with the help of the Egyptians.

Climate.

The mean temperature is about 66° Fah. The mean maximum for the last eight years was 102°, the mean minimum 31-8°; the highest temperature recorded in the period being 116°. The average rainfall in the last eight years was 17 in., the rainy season being from October to March. There are occasional droughts.

Population.

The population of the several districts at the census taken in 1881 was -Nicosia, 56,312; Famagusta, 38,207; Larnaca, 20,766; Limassol, 29,248; Papho, 28,424: Kyrenia, 13,216. The total population was 186,173, of whom the Moslems forin about one-fourth, the rest being nearly all Christians of the Orthodox Greek Church. The estimated present population is 200,000. The birth rate as computed 1888-89, is 27.3 per thousand per annum, the death rate 15·1 per thousand.

Towns.

The chief towns are Nicosia, the capital, 11,536 inhabitants; Larnaca, 7,833; Limassol, 6,006. The two latter are open roadsteads. At Famagusta, on the east, it has often been proposed to construct a great commercial and naval harbour; but

at

present the town is little more than ૧ । collection of ruins encircled by fortifications, and it has only 658 inhabitants, nearly all Moslems. Varosia, a suburb of Famagusta, has a population of 1,906, nearly all Christians. The four towns already mentioned are the capitals of four of the six administrative provinces into which the island is divided the other two capitals being Ktima, the

modern capital of Papho, on the south-west, and structed in the district of the same name, on the Kyrenia, where a small harbour is now being connorth coast, which has some trade with the opposite coast of Karamania.

Industry.

Cyprus was in ancient times famous for its mines, but they have not been worked in modern times. One or two concessions have, however, been recently granted to persons desirous of renewing the mining industry. Gypsum and terra umbra are exported. The wealth of the island consists mainly in its agricultural produce, chiefly corn, cotton, caroubs (locust beans), linseed, madder, olives, silk, raisins, fruit, vegetables, cheese, wool, hides, and wine. The common wines are for the most part exported to Syria, Egypt, Turkey, and Trieste; but both the common and the richer wines are exported to Austria, Italy, and France, to be used in giving strength and flavour to the fruit of poor vineyards. Cyprus wine is perhaps somewhat heady for ordinary use, and its value in commerce has been lessened by the tarry flavour it derives from the practice of carrying it to port in tarred skins. This practice is being discouraged as much as possible, and the construction of roads through the grape districts enables the wine to be conveyed in barrels.

The agricultural prosperity of the island is greatly retarded by want of water. The rainfall is somewhat deficient in the whole, and has not been made the best use of; although it is hoped that under measures passed in the Legislature of 1887 and 1889 facilities will be found for constructing irrigation works.

Much injury to crops has also been caused in the past by locusts, but the numbers are now inconsiderable and but little damage is done. The work of locust destruction was vigorously prosecuted for many years with great success, chiefly on what is known as the "screen and pit system.” The screens are stretched across the country in front of the armies of young locusts on the march, and being topped with oilcloth, the locusts cannot get over them, and are gradually forced into pits dug at intervals transversely to the screens, from which they cannot emerge, as they are topped with a zine lining.

In 1889, there were 194,422 sheep and 210,608 goats, a large reduction on previous totals.

The island, which contains more goats in proportion to area than any other country, has suffered greatly from the extensive destruction of its forests, but what remains of them is recovering, although slowly, under the better care now bestowed upon them.

Sponge fishing is extensively carried on along the coast by boats from Kálymnos and other islands.

The chief imports are cotton and woollen goods, tobacco, groceries, rice, alcohol, iron, leather, petroleum, timber, sugar, soap, and copper manufactures; the exports are chiefly corn, cotton, caroubs, linseed, madder, olives, silk, raisins, fruit, vegetables, cheese, sumac, wool, hides, wines, and spirits.

Currency and Banking.

Under an Order in Council which came into operation on the 1st August, 1882, the following coins are legal tender currency:-Gold, the sovereign, halfsovereign, Turkish lira, and French 20-frane piece. Silver, the florin, shilling, sixpence, and three-pence, limit of tender 31. Bronze, the piastre (nine equa

to one shilling), half piastre; quarter piastre; limit of tender, 27 piastres.

There are two banks, the Imperial Ottoman and the Anglo-Egyptian, each having branches or agencies at Larnaca, Nicosia, Limassol, Famagusta, Papho, and Kyrenia.

There is as yet no Government savings bank.

Means of Communication.

There is no railway or navigable waterway in the island, but good roads between all important places are now maintained. There are no Government telegraphs, but the Eastern Telegraph Company and the Imperial Ottoman Telegraph

Administration work about 240 miles of land line in connection with their cables. The island is in direct telegraphic communication with Alexandria and Latakia (Syria), by means of the cables of the Eastern and the Imperial Ottoman Telegraph Companies respectively.

There is a fortnightly mail service with Alexandria, and a weekly mail with Smyrna and Constantinople by the "Austrian Lloyd" and Messageries Maritimes" steamers. There are also frequent direct steamers to and from Egypt and the adjacent coast of Syria.

66

The rates of postage are as follows:

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

|

effects, and more rapid in its termination; but neither of the two can be called a fatal disease, as their average duration is 10-20 years, and some lepers live to be quite old people.

Leprosy is slightly more common among males than females; the greater proportion of cases come from low-lying villages in the districts of Famagusta, and cases among Mussulmen are of the greatest rarity. About 5 per cent. of the villages have had cases. Hereditary infection can be traced in most instances, while malarial taint and improper food appear to be the provoking occur without personal contagion. The disease is cause; it is doubtful, however, whether cases ever believed to be slowly decreasing.

British Occupation.

On the 4th June, 1878, a Convention was signed at Constantinople between the representatives of Her Britannic Majesty and the Sultan of Turkey, by which England engaged to join the Sultan in defending his Asiatic possessions against Russia in certain contingencies, and the Sultan, "in order to enable England to make necessary provision for executing her engagements," consented "to assign the Island of Cyprus, to be occupied and administered by England." On the 1st of July an Annex to this Convention was signed at Constantinople, in explanation of the conditions of the occupation. The following is the English official version of its provisions:

"I. That a Mussulman religious Tribunal (Mahkémé-i-Shérieh) shall continue to exist in the island, which will take exclusive cognizance of religious matters, and of no others, concerning the Mussulman population of the island.

"II. That a Mussulman resident in the Island shall be named by the Board of Pious Foundations in Turkey (Evkaf) to superintend, in conjunction with a Delegate to be appointed by the British Authorities, the administration of the property, funds, and lands belonging to mosques, cemeteries, Mussulman schools, and other religious establishments existing in Cyprus.

"III. That England will pay to the Porte whatever is the present excess of revenue over expen

diture in the island; this excess to be calculated

upon and determined by the average of the last five years, stated to be 22,936 purses, to be duly verified hereafter,and to the exclusion of the produce of State and Crown lands let or sold during that period.* and lease lands and other property in Cyprus "IV. That the Sublime Porte may freely sell belonging to the Ottoman Crown and State (Arazii Miriyé vé Emlaki Houmayoun), the produce of which does not form part of the revenue of the island referred to in Article III.

their competent authorities, may purchase compul"V. That the English Government, through sorily, at a fair price, land required for public improvements, or for other public purposes, and land

which is not cultivated.

and the other conquests made by her in Armenia "VI. That if Russia restores to Turkey Kars during the last war, the Island of Cyprus will be evacuated by England, and the Convention of the 4th of June, 1878, will be at an end."

Government.

On the 14th September, 1878, an Order in Council was issued for the regulation of the government

The exercise of these rights by the Porte was agreed to be abandoned, from the 1st of April, 1879, for a payment of £5,000 a year.

of the island. The administration was placed in the hands of an officer styled High Commissioner; a Legislative and an Executive Council were established, and the High Commissioner was invested with the powers of pardon, appointment, suspension from office, &c., &c., usually conferred upon a Colonial Governor. So much of this Order in Council as relates to legislation has been superseded by another, dated the 30th Nov., 1882, under which the Legislature consists of the High Commissioner, who is usually to preside, six non-elective Members, being office-holders, and twelve elected Members, three to be chosen by the Mahometan and nine by the non-Mahometan inhabitants of the Island. British subjects and foreigners who have resided five years in Cyprus can exercise the franchise, and are eligible for election as well as Ottoman subjects. The qualification for the franchise consists in the payment of any class of the taxes called Verghi. The Council may be dissolved by the High Commissioner whenever he sees fit, and must be dissolved at the end of five years. The island, for legal and administrative purposes, is divided into six districts, namely Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol, Famagusta, Kyrenia, and Papho. In each the Government is represented by a Commissioner.

The courts which were in existence at the time of the occupation have been superseded by a new set of courts constituted by an Order of Her Majesty in Council, dated the 30th November, 1882, which provides for:

(1) A supreme court of criminal and civil appeal, consisting at present of two judges.

(2) Six assize courts, having unlimited criminal jurisdiction, and consisting of one or more judges of the supreme court, sitting with one or more judges of the district courts.

(3) Six district courts, having criminal jurisdiction up to three years' imprisonment, and unlimited civil jurisdiction; and consisting of a President and two ordinary Members, one a Christian and

the other a Moslem.

(4) Six Magistrates' courts, consisting of the President of the district court or the two ordinary Members having summary jurisdiction up to one month's imprisonment and fine of 51.

(5) Village courts, at present ten in number, in addition to the judges of the district courts, and having jurisdiction in cases of commonage, putes as to the partition of property, and debt, &c.,

up to 51.

[ocr errors]

dis

Actions in the courts are divided into "Ottoman" and "Foreign" actions, according to the nationality of the defendant or defendants, and in Foreign" actions the President of the court alone generally exercises jurisdiction; as also in criminal cases against non-Ottomans. The Mahkémé-i-Shérieh, or Mussulman religious courts, are presided over by Cadis, but their duties are strictly confined to jurisdiction in religious cases affecting the Mahometan population, as contemplated by the Anglo-Turkish Convention.

The principal sources of revenue in Cyprus are:1. Verghi Taxes-Consisting of—

(1) A tax of 4 per 1,000 on the capital value
of lands or houses occupied by the owner.
(2) A tax of 4 per cent. on the annual rent of
lands or houses let.

(3) A tax of 3 per cent. on trade profits or

salaries.

2. Military exemption tax of 2s. 6d. a head on males between 18 and 60 years of age.

3. Tithes of the principal products of the island, assessed in money.

4. Sheep, goat, and pig tax.

5. An excise on wine, spirits, and tobacco. 6. Stamps, court fees, royalties, licences, &c., &c. 7. Salt monopoly.

on

8. Locust tax (temporary) of 1 per cent. tithes and certain incomes (for locust destruction) 9. Import duties according to the following tariff:

(The Oke 2.8 lbs. Avoirdupois. 9 Cyprus
Piastres = 1s.)

Arms, 25 per cent. ad valorem.
*Ammunitior, 20 per cent. ad valorem.
Salt, refined, 2 c.p. per oke.
Tobacco:

Leaf (other than "Tumbeki "), 1s. for every 2 okes.

Cigars, 75 per cent. ad valorem, provided that the amount thus charged shall in no case exceed the sum of 14s., nor be less than 3s. per oke.

Cigarettes, 75 per cent. ad valorem.

Chewing tobacco, 75 per cent. ad valorem. "Tumbeki," or Persian tobacco, 1s. 3 c.p. per oke.

Snuff, 100 per cent. ad valorem.

All other goods, except those admitted free, 8 per cent. on value at port of landing.

Free.

Anchors and chains, boats, coals, casks (empty), and sacks, fresh fish, gold, bullion, and specie, ice,

lime, machinery and agricultural implements, pitch taken by licensed boats, timber, hewn or rough and tar, printed books, atlases, maps, resin, sponges sawn, barley, chopped straw, cotton seed, flour, fodder for cattle, oats, wheat, church furniture, drugs and medical appliances, stationery, silkworms' eggs, sawdust, uniforms of public officers, and profes sional robes of legal and judicial officers in the employment of Her Majesty's Government, bark, leather and other belting to be used in the driving or working of machinery, vats and staves, or hoops for use in constructing casks or vats, sulphur, various articles for use in the manufacture and examination of wine, fire-arms imported by Officers of Her Majesty's Naval and Military Forces for their personal use, and the following:

(a) All goods imported for the Government of Cyprus to be used in the public service.

(b) All military stores imported by Her Majesty's War Department.

(c) All goods imported for the use of the High Commissioner.

by and for the use of any officer of Her Majesty's (d) All articles of military equipment imported land forces.

plied under contract with Her Majesty's War (e) Goods and stores of every description supDepartment for the public use of Her Majesty's land forces.

(f) Personal baggage, viz., wearing apparel, bep and table linen, and bedding.

An allowance in lieu of drawback of duty is made on goods supplied to and consumed by H.M's. land forces. A drawback is allowed on articles supplied to H.M's. ships.

The importation is prohibited of silver and copper coins, locust eggs, salt (except refined salt for table purposes), goats, and, with the object of preventing the introduction of phylloxera, of all fruits and vegetables in a raw state, whether fresh

* Value assessed by Customs Officers.

↑ Duty charged on full value at port of importation.

or dried; all trees and plants, and every living part of a tree or plant; all flowers, cut or otherwise; all dried plants and flowers; staves which have been used for vine props or similar purposes; all binding which has been nsed for vines or other plants; earth and gravel, leaf and garden mould; all animal and vegetable manures, except guano, bone dust, and other fossil or chemically prepared manures; hay and straw, compressed or otherwise, from Algeria, Asia Minor, Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Spain, Syria, and Turkey in Europe.

[blocks in formation]

1886-87. 101,070

1,043

253,682 355,795

1887-88.

1888-89.

[blocks in formation]

Year.

To U.K.

Total.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

1878

[blocks in formation]

1880

[blocks in formation]

1881

[blocks in formation]

1882

[blocks in formation]

276,129

[blocks in formation]

290,210

[blocks in formation]

All exemptions formerly enjoyed by foreigners have been abolished, except that from the military exemption tax. The military exemption tax itself is now payable by Moslems and Christians alike. Tithes on grapes and on certain minor articles have been abolished; carobs and silk cocoons pay tithe only on exportation. An export duty of 12 per cent. is charged on raisins, and of 10 per cent. on linseed. All other export duties, and a fishing 1879 tax, have been abolished by the British Administration.

Total Customs revenue in 1888-9, 21,1267. There is a military police force of about 680 men, mostly Moslems.

[blocks in formation]

1887-88. 27,928
1888-89. 33,666 5,172 171,459

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Clerk, G. Smith.

List of Principal Officials.

High Commissioner, Sir H. E. Bulwer, G.C.M.G.,
4,000l.

Private Secretary, A. T. D. Berrington, 150%.
Aide-de-Camp, Captain R. Holden, 150%.

Chief Secretary to Government, Hon. Col. F. G. E.
Warren, R. A., C.M.G., 1,2007.

Assistant to Chief Secretary, G. Smith, 300l. to 4007. Chief Clerk, W. H. Bennett, 2207., and 50%. duty pay.

Translator of Turkish Documents, A. Utidjian, 3001. Translator of Greek Documents, J. Pierides, 2007. Assistant Translator of Turkish Documents. T. Moldovack, 150/

Assistant Translator of Greek Documents, D.
Karageorgiades, 907. to 1207.

Queen's Advocate, Hon. W. R. Collyer, 7501.
Receiver-General, Hon. J. A. Swettenham, 8007.
Auditor,

Island Treasurer, F. G. Glossop, 300l. to 360.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Heidenstam, C.M.G., 5007.
District Medical Officers, G. N. Stephen, and

2507. each, 4 others, and one Health Officer at Larnaca.

Director of Survey, A. F. G. Law, 6007.
Government Engineer (vacant).

Principal Forest Officer, A. F. G. Law, Director of
Survey.

Inspector of Schools, The Rev. Josiah Spencer, 3651.
Postmaster, G. R. Hunter, 4007.

[blocks in formation]

Police.

Chief Commandant and Inspector of Prisons, Capt.
J. H. Bor, R.M.A., 5507. and forage.
Local Commandant, Nicosia, C. S. Cade, 3057. 10s.,
and forage.

Ditto, Larnaca, L. Olive, 365l., and forage.

Ditto, Limassol, Major the Hon E. J. Chetwynd,
3057. 10s., and forage.

Ditto, Famagusta, Cecil Dudley, 3051., and forage.
Ditto, Papho, Col. and Hon. Maj.-Gen. D. Hammill,
C.B., 275l., and forage.

Ditto, Kyrenia, R. Fisher (paid as Commissioner).

Supreme Court

Courts of Justice.

Chief Justice, Sir Elliot C. Bovill, Kt., 1,000. Puisne Judge, W. J. Smith, 7507.

Registrar G. G. Amirayan, 250.

Ordinary Judges, C. Cramby, 2001.
M. Hassan Hilmi, 2007.

Nicosia.

President, M. B. Seager, 5501.

Ordinary Judges, Sophocles Lyssandrides, 2167.
Ahmet Izzet, 2167.

Limassol.

President, J. P. Middleton, 5002.

Ordinary Judges, Demetrio Rossidi, 2007. Hassan Hakki, 2007.

Famagusta.

President A. V. Lucie Smith, 5007. Ordinary Judges, C. Papadopoulo, 2007. Mehemet Ata Bey, 2001.

[blocks in formation]

Papho.

Ordinary Judges, C. Michaelides, 1507. Hadji Kuffi, 1507.

Kyrenia.

President, F. G. Templer, 450%.
Ordinary Judges, T. E. Mitzis, 1507.
Hussein Zekiayi, 1507.

Cadis of

Cyprus, Esseid Eboul Khair Effendi, 3007. Nicosia District and Kyreina, Esseid Hussein Husni, 144/

Famagusta and Larnaca, Ahmed Khouloussi, 1207.

Limassol and Papho, Esseid Abdur Rahman, 1201.

Ecclesiastical,

Chief Mussulman Dignitaries, Esseid Eboul Mehmet
Khair Effendi, Chief Cadi of Cyprus, and Esseid
Ahmet Assim Effendi, Mufti of Cyprus.
Greek Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Sophronios,
Archbishop of Cyprus.

Anglican Church, Rev. Josiah Spencer, B. A., Nicosia.
Church of Scotland, Rev. J. Ferguson, Limassol.
Armenian Church, Rev. Portowkalian Khoren
Vartabed (Vicar).

Latin Church, Very Rev. Riccardo Branco, Vicar. General, Larnaca.

Maronite Church, Rev. Joseph Zoghbi (acting Vicar).

Austria-Hungary

Foreign Consuls.

Larnaca, Vice-Consul, Giuseppe Pascotini. Nicosia, Agent, Joanni Pavlides.

France

Larnaca, Consul, A. Péretié.

Limassol, Agent, George Acamas.

Larnaca, Giuseppe Pascotini. Greece

Germany

Larnaca, Consul, Jean Kyrgoussios. Limassol, Vice-Consul, Jean Caloutzis. Paphos, Agent, Theodoros Macridi.

Italy

Larnaca, Consul, A. Rayban di Massiglia Limassol, Agent, Socrates Francoudi. Sweden and Norway

Larnaca, Charles F. Watkins.

Denmark

Larnaca, Charles F. Watkins.

[ocr errors]
« EdellinenJatka »