TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 451 



western mediaeval architecture in the churches of Nicosia and Faniagosta. These 

 merit a special memoir by a competent archaeologist. The fortifications of Fama- 

 gosta are probably one of the finest and best preserved examples of the military 

 engineering of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. A colossal vase of compact 

 limestone, 11' 6" diameter, nearly 8 feet in height, -with sides 10 inches thick, is 

 seen on the summit of the hill which formed the citadel of the Phoenician city of 

 Amathus. There is a similar vase in the Louvre, also from Cyprus. The author 

 carefully examined vestiges of an ancient canal, which formerly served to connect 

 the salt lake south of Limasol with the sea. 



The climate of Cyprus is next described, more especially with regard to the 

 fevers prevalent in some districts. The malarious fever is attributed chiefly to 

 emanations from marshes, which are, however, of limited area. To improve the 

 ■climate, especially about Famagosta, the marshes should be drained, and the river 

 Pidias embanked in the lower part of its course, and thus prevented from spreading 

 over and converting the plain into a swamp. The necessary works may be carried 

 out at moderate cost, and should prove remunerative by bringing land, now worse 

 than useless, into cultivation. 



Agriculture is, with few exceptions, in a very backward and unsatisfactory 

 condition. Attempts at cultivation are only made in the case of the test lands, and 

 these produce but one corn crop every two or three years. The rainfall is often 

 insufficient, and the period at which rain falls, and the quantity, vary within wide 

 limits. During the past ten years there have been but five fairly good harvests. 

 Much of the water needed for the crops is carried off rapidly by torrents to the 

 sea. The remedy for these evils is to store water in tanks, after the Indian native 

 system, and distribute it over the land by canals as nepded. This supply of water 

 for n*rigation from tanks should be supplemented by artesian wells and an extension 

 of the method which has prevailed in Cyprus from an early age, of collecting water 

 from a series of shallow wells. Water is met with at moderate depths over the 

 greater part of the island. Irrigation, wherever employed (as it now is in many 

 districts on a small scale), is attended with the happiest results. The irrigated 

 lands produce a succession of abundant crops, and their value is at least five times 

 that of land of similar quality not irrigated. 



In conclusion, the author calls attention to the fact that no map exists of the 

 island with even an approximation to accuracy, and recommends, first, the com- 

 pletion of the trigonometrical survey which was commenced, but has been suspended; 

 secondly, a geological survey ; and thirdly, systematic meteorological observations, 

 the existing data as to rainfall being of the most meagre description. 



TUESDAY, AUGUST 26. 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. Hydrography, past and present. By Lieutenant G. Temple, R.N. 



See Reports, p. 229. 



2. Arctic Research. By Commander L. A. Beaumont, R.N. 



The author holds that the future of Arctic work must depend upon the 

 persevering efforts and reasonable arguments of those who advocate it ; and that 

 the revival of interest in Arctic exploration will commence amongst those who are 

 sure to be more influenced by valuable and substantial results as an object, than by 

 the prospect of a brilliant but profitless achievement. 



In spite of the unfortunate controversies which followed the return of the late 



g o 2 



