‘Cyprus.’ [‎41v] (82/184)

76
CYPRUS.
Cyprus ; it follows that Cyprus presents attractions for the esta-
blishment of winter Sanataria superior to those afforded by Italy,
France, Spain, or Algiers. It is to be noted also that at this
season the rainfall is moderate, being not much different in amount
from that of London, but it falls much seldomer; three days out
of every four being without any rain at all.
“ The summers are, in common with those of the coasts of
Algeria, South Italy, South Greece, and South Asia Minor very
hot and rainless, and must therefore be exposed to an increased
unhealthiness and mortality from bow T el complaints and other
diseases incident to climates where the mean temperature reaches
81°-o. But Cyprus presents in its varied surface, which rises to
heights of several thousand feet above the sea, culminating in
Mount Olympus, 6,590 feet high, admirable facilities for the esta
blishment of summer Sanataria among its mountains, just as has
been done in India among the Himalaya Mountains and Neil-
gherry Hills. Though we have no definite information regarding
the summer climates of the highlands of Cyprus there can be no
doubt, reasoning from the meteorology of the region of the
Caucasus, and from remarks scattered through Mr. Sandwith’s
Meteorological Journals, that in addition to a lower temperature
due simply to the greater height, showers of rain, with and with
out thunder, are not of unfrequent occurrence among the moun
tains of Cyprus in summer.
“ It must be clearly understood that in the above remarks,
reference has been made only to atmospheric conditions as deter
mining the healthiness or unhealthiness of the climate. There are,
it is scarcely necessary to say, other conditions affecting the health
of a country than merely its atmospheric conditions. These, in a
country like Cyprus, are chiefly those malarious and noxious elements
which find their way into the atmosphere from lands once culti
vated, but now allowed to lie uncultivated, and from lands where the
drainage is more or less defective. It follows therefore that much may
be done in mitigation of the effects of the summer heat by the estab
lishment of Sanataria among the mountains and by carrying through
agricultural improvements and engineering works which would at
the same time contribute to the material prosperity of the island.”
It will be observed that the above valuable report of the
Scottish Meteorological Society refers entirely to the south coast of
Cyprus, in the neighbourhood of Larnaca ; and we have at hand
no such detailed and accurate information regarding the climate of
the interior, and of the north coast of the island ; but, according to
all accounts, the temperature at each season varies very considerably
in different parts of the island, being affected by the features of the
physical geography. Thus, in the central plains, the heat in
summer is stated to be excessive, the winters here are mild, and
snow is of rare occurrence. At Nicosia, though the summer nights
are believed to be cooler than at Larnaca, the summer generally is
hotter, and the winter colder, than at the latter place. At Fama
gusta the heat is reported to be still greater, owing to the sandy
soil which prevails there.