Yol. 56.] SALT-LAKE OF LARNACA. 757 



manner, should the intercepting channels fail to operate, or the 

 sea encroach, a wide estuary (shown by hatching) of shallow water 

 would be formed, and all trace of the salt-lake become obliterated. 



(16) Forces operating upon the Lake., 



It has now been demonstrated that there are two opposite forces 

 perpetually operating upon the lake. The one, whose effect is 

 to fill it, originates from the inflow of sea- and rain-water combined, 

 acting respectively from above and below ; and the other, whose 

 effect is to empty it, is represented by evaporation, infiltration being 

 a ' quantite negligeable,' as it may be concluded that the ground under 

 and around the lake is already and continually saturated with 

 moisture. An equilibrium between the two forces is probably 

 never arrived at, and the level of the lake must be constantly 

 varying. This much was noticeable from day to day during the 

 progress of these observations, when a fresh dry wind was blowing 

 from the north and north-east, whose capacity for absorbing aqueous 

 vapour was indicated by the daily subsidence of the lake, when rain 

 was absent. 



(17) Rate of Evaporation. 



It is matter for regret that there are no means of ascertaining 

 accurately the extent to which these forces operate. The rate of 

 evaporation in Cyprus "has apparently never been measured ; it can 

 only be estimated very approximately. Experiments and observa- 

 tions in this direction would be interesting as well as of considerable 

 value ; and it would doubtless be proved decisively, by this and 

 similar means, to how great an extent the sea contributes towards the 

 filling of the lake. 



(18) Salt-Harvest. 



The salt-harvest commences during the month of August, that is 

 to say, when the summer-heat is at the zenith of its power ; but it 

 is reported that the occurrence of one heavy shower at this time of 

 year suffices to ruin the prospects of the collection entirely. This 

 may be understood when it is realized that 1 inch of rain represents 

 nearly one-eighth part of the contents of the lake, and falls to this 

 amount not infrequently accompany a thunderstorm in the summer- 

 time. 



The quality of the salt collected in the Larnaca salines is of 

 unusual excellence. It has from earliest history not only been 

 famed for the important part which it plays in domestic economy, but 

 has enjoyed a reputation for possessing valuable medicinal properties, 

 and it is peculiarly free from grit or other foreign matter. 



However justly or otherwise it deserves this reputation, there is 

 much satisfaction in the knowledge that the lake must continue to 

 be an uninterrupted and inexhaustible source of revenue to the 

 island, and a large and remunerative traffic could be carried on if 

 markets could be opened for the salt. The mode of collection is of 

 the simplest possible description, and as Prof. Gaudry says in this 

 connection : ' Tout se passe encore en Chypre comme en 1572 ' (op, 

 cit. p. 273). 



