Commissioner at Papho
Besides the judicial functions of the Commissioner of Papho, there were the fiscal duties of Government. Taxes had to be collected, and these, with the relative duties of finance and the management of the post office, were entirely under the personal control of Wauchope and his colleague. The latter service alone must have involved considerable labour. Besides this, they had at Papho one company of the 42nd, camped some little distance out of the town, but near enough to be readily available when required. So busy were they kept with these varied onerous duties, that Wauchope and his friend, frequently working at high pressure, had few opportunities for recreation. But notwithstanding the pressing requirements of the moment, and the somewhat circumscribed social aspect of the place, they were on the best of terms with some of the leading native gentry: the Greek bishop was particularly friendly, and they often dined with him at his palace. A worthy old fellow he appears to have been, who could enjoy a good dinner with a prime bottle of Cyprus wine. In recognition of his great kindness to them Major Duff mentions that they 'gave him in return such a banquet on St. Andrew's night as seemed to gladden his soul.'
Of amusements, or anything in the way of English sports, there were few or none, even had time permitted. Still, they would not have been British if they had not introduced among the natives some sports from the old country. They accordingly started pony races for the zaptiehs or police of the district. 'Our chief difficulty,' says Major Duff, 'was to get the Turks and Greeks to run together in the same coach, and for this difficult task Wauchope was eminently qualified, as, in addition to all his many sterling attributes, must be added that of being a student of human nature, without which he never would have been the leader of men he unquestionably was.'
So much did Captain Wauchope accomplish during his term of office at Papho, that Dr. Wisely informs us 'the inhabitants looked on him as an angel from heaven—and well they might, when they contrasted his righteous rule with the wretched rule of the Turkish officials who had tyrannised over them. Yet Wauchope was by no means an easy-going ruler. He investigated with the greatest patience every case that was brought before him, and spared himself no pains to get at the truth. This made such an impression upon the Turks, as well as upon the Greek-speaking community, that all classes alike respected him, and when the time came for the Commissioner to retire from office, there was a universal desire expressed that he might be retained.'
We have been favoured with similar testimony from Sir Robert Biddulph, sometime High Commissioner of Cyprus, lately Governor of Gibraltar, who informs us that 'in carrying out his duties Captain Wauchope showed much administrative ability, as well as great tact and judgment in dealing with the inhabitants. This enabled him to steer a clear course through the political agitation which broke out in Cyprus early in 1879, and which had many adherents in Papho. When Sir Garnet Wolseley left the island at short notice in May 1879 in order to command the troops in Natal and Zululand, his departure, coinciding with the attacks made in Parliament on the Cyprus administration, caused several of the civil commissioners to send in their resignations.' Colonel Biddulph, who had been sent from Cyprus to Constantinople in March 1879 to negotiate with the Porte concerning the 'tribute,' was in June following instructed by the Home Government to return and assume the government of the island as High Commissioner. On his arrival he was met by Captain Wauchope, who had come with several of the other commissioners to wish him good-bye before leaving the island. Sir Robert at once realised the gravity of the situation. 'I told them,' says he, 'that I could not consent to their leaving all together at this crisis, and Wauchope willingly consented to remain for, at all events, some months longer. In September I went home for two months on private affairs, and Wauchope then went home with me, having resigned his appointment with my consent.'
The Sultan's claims
In the interval, certain questions as to personal claims by the Sultan to property in Cyprus were presented to the British Government, and it was decided to appoint a qualified British delegate to investigate these claims on the spot. On the recommendation of Sir Robert Biddulph, Lord Salisbury appointed Captain Wauchope for this somewhat difficult duty, and he and Sir Robert returned to Cyprus together in November of the same year. In his official capacity Wauchope explored the whole of Cyprus, making full inquiries wherever he went as to the properties alleged to belong to the Sultan, and gathering much information as to the condition of the people in the rural districts, and the state of agriculture generally.
'The investigation of the Sultan's claims,' says Sir Robert Biddulph, 'occupied several months, during which time Captain Wauchope again displayed great tact and judgment in this very delicate matter, and maintained at the same time very friendly relations with the Turkish officer who was sent by the Sultan to support his claims. This was the more remarkable, because every one of the Sultan's claims was rejected.'
The Government recognised the thoroughness with which Captain Wauchope had accomplished his task, by conferring upon him, immediately on his return home in August 1880, the Order of St. Michael and St. George.