Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-06-23
English RnIe ia C,nrns.

NJ. Gabriel Charmes sends a letter
to the Paris Journal des Debats, Civ
ing details of the English administra-
ton in the island. The Cypriots ex-
pected that the advent of the English
would be accompanied by juster and
less onerous taxes. They have here
again been disappointed. The Eng
lish occupation has entailed heavier
taxes than ever, and to the state taxes
have been added twenty-eight
municipal ones. If the revenue from
the taxes were we'll employed, there
would be some consolation. But it is
employed recklessly. On arriving at
Larnaca, M. Charmes was struck by
the appearance of the quay, built in
all manner of fashions, He thought
this was some Turkish absurdity, but
found that it was the work of the first
English governor, who projecting
the construction of a quay along
the town, employed some dozen
contractors to construct speci.
mems of what they would propose,
to be. afterward all demolished
and replaced by the one selected.
These specimens, however, cost Lar
naca 100000. The expense was so
great that the quay coud get no fur
Their. NJ. Charmes says this is typical
of the whole English administration
in Cyprus. The same defective man
agement and organization is found in
the administration Of justice. Every
thing is transacted in English, ofwhich
the natives do not understand a word
nobody, in fact, knows what the law
is, because it is an unknown foreign
language, and men are continually
being arrested for breaking new reCu
lations of the existence of which they
are ignorant. There is certainly a
legislative council, but it is composed
of the governor and two English off
GERS alongside a European, a Turk and
"a Greek. As the former form the
majority, they just do as they
please, and they seem to think the
'Cypriots, as one of the, chief proprie.
tors ofthe island told the governor,
are like so many Zulus or Afghans.
The country is ruled by officers ignor.
ant of the native language and the
native institutions, who cannot realize
any but their own customs. The pun
ishments awarded, moreover, are ludi.
crous, and not the slightest respect is
paid to native susceptibiities. One
Of the chief merchants in a town of
the island was on one occasion SEN
fenced to several days Imprisonment
for playing music at night, which was
forbidden in some ordinance unknown
to the natives. Another person was
sentenced to the same punishment for
not signing a summons he did not un-
derstald, and a man, NJ. Charmes
was told, was sentenced to five years
imprisonment for stealing three
oranges. All this is accompanied by
hard labor, so that the astonish-
ment Of the inhabitants can be
imagined on seeing the most respect
able merchants of their town turned
out in prison costume to carry stones.
under the supervision of Zaptiehs.
Two priests were condemned, one for
not signing a document be did not
understand, and another for cutting
down a branch of a tree, in violation
Of some English order, of the exist.
ence of which he did not know. and
had their heads shaven and boards cut
of-one of the severest ecclesiastical
punishments of the Greek church
The English were still enforcing prison
regulations. But the Cypriots are
rejoicing, and are now full ofhope that
a civil administration and laws in the
Greek language will be granted them
by the liberals, with whose leaders
many Of them have been in constant
correspondence about their grievances
for a long time, and from whom thew
have received the amplest promises.