344 THE IMAGE OF WAR 



The tabernacle was ornamented with elaborate 

 carvings, the work of an old archimandrite who was 

 most anxious to show it to me, but the most con- 

 spicuous ornament thereon was the Imperial Hussian 

 Eagle 1 This is possibly not political in this case, the 

 monastery having cause to be thankful to Russia for 

 many benefits, and being a place of much resort to 

 Russian pilgrims. Moreover, it owns property in 

 Russia, near Batoum, I believe : Mrs Stevenson says 

 in Roumania also, and credits it with an income of 

 £10,000 a-year. It should be far more, were its 

 properties honestly administered. 



Will it seem ungrateful if I here admit that these 

 monasteries, of which there are an enormous number, 

 are the curse of Cyprus, and that their dissolution 

 is earnestly called for ? Their collective revenues, 

 especially when we consider the dishonest manner in 

 which the monastery lands are managed, would pro- 

 bably pay the annual tribute to the Porte (£92,000 

 odds), a grievous burden which prevents Cyprus from 

 making any substantial progress. 



The monks are an idle, illiterate body, and more 

 than suspected of leading a dissolute life. Be this as 

 it may, the monasteries are entirely useless, and only 

 serve to pauperise certain dependent villages, thus 

 contrasting strongly with the various Catholic orders, 

 who have been of such assistance to the Bosnian 

 Government, in instructing the people in agricultural 

 and dairy matters, and even in certain manufactures, 

 by example as well as precept, and in acting as parish 

 clergy and teachers. 



After seeing the church we mounted our mules and 

 started again, taking a track leading westward for 

 some three hours through the pine forest. On the 



