He was deep in thought in his office... Then he raised his head, called his aide, and gave his instructions:
- Prepare a foundation charter for me!
- At your service, Pasha. What will the contents be?
- My vineyards, gardens, pine forests, and farmlands on the island of Chios will be endowed. Mastic trees will be planted there, and water channels will be opened...
- As you command, Pasha.
- Look, my child! I can tell from the curious expression on your face. You're wondering why I am endowing such valuable lands so easily, aren't you? The state of the country is clear. The enemy is relentless and seizing every opportunity. If we die without endowing these lands, when they are occupied, they will become theirs as well. But with God's permission, no one can touch endowed property. Do you understand now?
Thus, Salih Pasha, through the foundation he established on the island of Chios, ensured the enhancement and protection of the property by planting numerous mastic trees on the endowed lands, in addition to the construction of new water channels. Years passed... The Ottoman Empire was disbanded with World War I. The islands adjacent to Turkey were ceded to Greece. And today, unfortunately, there is no trace of this Ottoman Pasha's foundation on the island of Chios. Nowadays, the global mastic trade is monopolized solely by Greece. The income from the mastic tree on the island of Chios is substantial. The resin of this tree is used as a raw material in the food and chemical industries. The second most important center in the world where the mastic tree can grow is Çeşme, and since 1993, the governorship, district governorship, and the Aegean Forest and Research Group have been working to develop the mastic tree.
For some reason, no progress has been made. Perhaps the people of Çeşme need to be more willing to capitalize on this great blessing...
We remember with gratitude and respect the founders of the foundation established in 1705 by Salih Pasha bin Ebubekir Pasha...