21 



Vanilla, a favourite flavouring essence, is exceptionally deal*, 

 paying 20 drachmas per oke Custom duty alone. Vanilla is 

 brought from Germany in dried pods. 



Mastic, another flavouring material, is brought from Ohio in 

 semi-transparent resinous tears, exuding from the mastic tree 

 grown on that island, and also obtained by incision. 



Pistachio is either brought in nuts from Syria, or in a liquid 

 state yielded from the kernel. 



Chocolate is brought in cakes from France and Germany, whilst 

 the other flavouring essences, viz. : — banana, rose, violet, citron, 

 mandarine, mint, pine, almond, orange, lemon, &c., are brought in 

 liquids from Germany. 



An inferior quality of citron is produced locally from the rind 

 of the Naxos citron. 



The confection has up to the present been generally consumed 

 throughout Greece, and the manufacturers are unable to increase 

 the prices, as the Greeks will not pay more than they have been 

 accustomed to do for so many years. 



Several attempts have, however, been made to introduce the 

 article in England, but it has been found impossible to compete 

 with the Smyrna produce, which is by far inferior in quality, on 

 account of its cheapness. 



This obstacle will, it is hoped, be removed by the coming in 

 force of a Bill already passed in the Greek Chamber of Deputies, 

 in virtue of which the Syra manufacturers will be given the 

 option of drawing from the Custom House, free of duty, a stated 

 quantity of sugar under guarantee that it will be returned in the 

 shape of " Rabat Loukoum " for exportation. 



The Bill has not come in force yet through some unknown 

 delay on the part of the Government, but the Syra merchants hope 

 the matter will be taken in hand as soon as a change of Ministry 

 takes place, which is generally anticipated. 



As stated in our Trade Report for last year, the excellence of 

 this confection is chiefly attributed to the water of the island, ana 

 the circumstance, illustrative of this statement, may be mentioned, 

 of some of the Syra manufacturers having attempted to estabiisH 

 factories at Trieste, Smyrna and New York, but failed to produce 

 the excellent article made here, owing apparently to the employ- 

 ment of a different kind of water. 



" Rabat Loukoum," as the words imply, is essentially of 

 Turkish origin, the primitive article having been flavoured ^\ltll 

 otto of roses or Chio mastic. 



The industry was introduced into Syra from that island, over 

 half a century ago, by a certain Otamatelaki, one of the numerous 

 fugitives from the massacre of Chio in 1822, who found refuge 

 and established themselves in the Cyclades. His children, wbo 

 succeeded him in the trade, have gradually perfected the article, 

 - ' ° , ,. .=- — re suitable 



prizes on 



