CHAP, cxiii. coni'fer^. ^'bies. 23^7 



Holland was informed that some of the stones of this altar, and of the bones 

 of the animals sacrificed on it, were still occasionally to be found on its site. 

 " The name of the Black Mountain," he says, " was obtained from the large 

 pine forests which once covered its acclivity ; but, during the disturbed state 

 of the islands fifteen years ago (about 1798), these forests were wantonly set 

 on fire, and in great part destroyed; so that now (Feb., 1813) the appearance 

 of the mountain entirely contradicts its name. This is especially the case on 

 its southern side, where the precipitous point, which rises by a single majestic 

 elevation from the base to the summit, is broken by numerous deep gullies, 

 displaying the white limestone rock of which the mountain is composed." 

 (^Travels in the Ionian Isles, &c., p. 35.) 



The main ridge of the Black Mountain lies in the direction of north-west 

 and south-east. The upper part only is, or rather was, covered with forest ; 

 while the lower part of the sides is covered with vineyards, olive grounds, 

 corn fields, and gardens. The ridge. General Napier informs us, is very 

 narrow, and its sides steep, and in many places almost without soil ; never- 

 theless, this fir springs, in many places, from the crevices of the rock, though, 

 like other mountain trees in similar cases, the tree only attains a large size 

 in mountain hollows, where the soil is deep and the situation sheltered. 

 Neither Pouqueville nor Olivier mention this forest ; and, though Dr. Pococke 

 speaks of the mountain, the highest point of which he calls Mount Gar- 

 gasso, he does not mention its trees. This omission is, however, accounted 

 for by the fact, that Dr. Pococke did not go on shore on the island. In 

 General C. J. Napier's work, entitled The Co/onies, published in 1833, there are 

 more ample details. It is there stated that, notwithstanding a great part of this 

 forest was burned down several years ago, it is still very extensive ; thotigh it is 

 greatly injured by the vast number of goats which are permitted to range at 

 pleasure among the trees, and which destroy the young ones by uniformly 

 biting off the leading shoot. As wood is very valuable in Cephalonia, the 

 forest. General Napier observes, might be made a source of great riches and 

 utility ; and twenty years' care, would make it magnificent. Count Ma- 

 rine Mataxa, one of the nobles of the island, he adds, told him that, " when 

 he was presented to the Emperor Napoleon, His Majesty's first question 

 was about the forest on the Black Mountain." {Colonies, &.C., p. 336.) The 

 following is an extract from an Agricultiu-al Report made to Colonel Conyers 

 respecting this forest in 1832, by Mr. Edward Curling, the director of the 

 Colonial Farm already mentioned : — " Before I conclude, I must draw your 

 attention to the fine forest of firs that might be had on the Black Mountain 

 of Cefalonia. With a very little attention, this would form a source of riches 

 to the islands, which, at present, import all the wood they require for houses, 

 ship-building, &c. This forest, at one time, contained some of the finest trees 

 in the world, but was unfortunately burned down by the negligence of some 

 Greeks in setting fire to their lands ; and, since then, the goats have effectually 

 prevented anything like a good tree from growing. These animals always eat 

 off the leading shoot, and thus entirely ruin the tree : for this fir does not 

 renew its leading shoot when injured. And thus, only stunted crooked trees 

 are to be found, except a few that have sprung up since Colonel Napier took 

 pains to keep the goats out ; though, immediately that the island was left in 

 less attentive hands, the goats renewed their incursions. Even these young 

 trees are in danger of being destroyed by the women who collect resin, who 

 take off about a foot of the bark of the leading shoot ; and, of course, the tree 

 dies. Colonel Napier has made a road up to the forest ; and the thinnings 

 would pay all the expenses of taking care of it, as firewood sells enormously 

 dear at Argostoli." {Colonies, &c., p. 283.) 



" It has been said that ' it is useless to take any pains to protect this forest, 

 as there is scarcely a tree in it worth the trouble ;' but this is the very reason 

 why it should be protected, to prevent the trees from being injured as they 

 have hitherto been, and to allow the trees to attain a timbei'-like size." {Ibid.) 



History. As far as we have been able to discover, no botanist has yet 



