390 THE NATTJBAL HI3T0ET REVIEW. 



the heat of the plains becomes oppressive, and througliout the sum- 

 mer and autumn it continues intense. The harvest is by that time 

 everywhere over ; the air is dry and full of haze, nothing but stubble 

 fields meet the eye, the mulberry trees are leafless, and refreshing 

 shade is looked for in vain. 



From the temperature of deep springs we get for the mean 

 temperature of the north side of the island 65f° Pahr., and of the 

 south side 69^. This result is quite intermediate between the 

 mean temperature of Athens, 65.3°, and that of Cairo, 72°, and 

 is therefore probably nearly correct. The springs of the northern 

 chain are much more copious and permanent than those of the 

 south, and make their appearance at the point of junction of the 

 limestone with the superimposed sandstone or marl, at an elevation 

 of 500 to 700 feet. As the supply is abundant throughout the year, 

 its source cannot be the southern chain, not only because that is less 

 pierced with springs, but also because the corresponding rocks do 

 not there rise so high, and the hydrostatic pressure must act the 

 other way. It is therefore believed to be derived from the Carama- 

 nian mountains on the opposite coast. 



In the earlier historic times the island of Cyprus was entirely 

 covered with timber. Long after the axe had been freely applied 

 to the trees of Lebanon, Cyprus was one dense forest. When first 

 colonized by the Phoenicians it must have been well wooded. In 

 these ancient times its mines of copper and iron were extensively 

 worked. The island was long one main source of supply of timber 

 for shipbuilding, and we are told that land was freely granted to 

 ijettlers on condition of its being cleared of timber. All these 

 causes no doubt rapidly led to a diminution of the forest, and we may 

 fairly infer to an increase of dryness. Unfortunately the clearing 

 was carried on without judgment. Large tracts have been denuded 

 of forest which are quite unfit for cultivation, and now form an 

 arid desert. The area of waste land is now considerably greater 

 than that under cultivation, which amounts to about one-eighth of 

 the whole island, the remainder being forest. Even now, however, in 

 spite of the destructive habits of the people, who cut down and 

 destroy the trees recklessly, and waste them by devastating fires, 

 there is more wood in Cyprus than in other parts of the East 

 similarly situated. The open plains and lower slopes are certainly 

 bare, but the hill tops have often clumps of trees or small woods, 

 and the higher mountains are still well wooded. . 



