1822.] 
tally; sothat to perceive the grapes, it 
is necessary to raise up the branches 
and put the leaves aside. This posi- 
tion, so far from injuring the fruit, 
tends to shelter the vine from the 
winds, preserves the grapes from the 
ravages of the hail; whilst the earth, 
heated by the solar rays, assists in 
bringing the fruit to the highest degree 
of perfection. When the heat has 
been too violent, the juice of the grape 
resembles molasses, which it is then 
necessary to correct with water. The 
ordinary wine is made of the grape 
called potamissi ; of this there are two 
kinds, the black and the white. Among 
the birds of the isle of Tinos, the crows 
are three times more numerous than 
all the other species together ; next to 
these, white pigeons are most nu- 
merous: game is very scarce here; 
there are a few red partridges, but no 
grey ones, and hares are still less in 
number ; but the number of wild tur- 
tles and quails is so great, that they 
are preserved by the. inhabitants by 
_ pickling them for their winter’s stock. 
Among. the insects, the cicada is 
one of the most troublesome to a 
stranger, as their noise from the mul- 
berry-trees is to be heard day and 
night. The islanders say, their mono- 
tony lulls them to sleep. Vipers and 
adders do greatdamage here when they 
get into the dove-houses; but neither 
«teer nor any of the large quadrupeds 
are indigenous to this island. The 
only: thing of the wild species is a 
jackal or kind of fox. Neither ducks, 
geese, or turkeys, are bred here; the 
poultry of each yard seldom consists 
of more than a dozen of common 
fowls, and some among these lay eggs 
twice a-day ; and, among the eggs ‘of 
those that lay but one, it is not un- 
common to find some with two yolks. 
In the yard of each house it is also 
common to feed pigs, which they gene- 
rally kill when two or three years old. 
This occurs in the month of Novem- 
ber, preparatory to the laying-in of the 
year’s stock. 
There are but few horses, and those 
are of a bad breed; but the mules are 
strong, and very sure-footed, though 
they are not shod here, nor in several 
islands of the Archipelago ; they never 
have oats or barley for their food, but 
will carry from 600 to 650 Ibs. 
~The inhabitants of Tinos are of a 
good size, well- -proportioned, and pather 
atgt Their hair is generally 
ack or brown, and seldom or never 
On the Actual State of the Greek Islands. 
115 
fair. About the age of forty, the men 
are very subject. to become bald. 
Among the women large eyes, placed 
high in the forehead, with thick eye 
arched brows, are reckoned handsome. 
Though possessing more animation than 
the men, the women are at the same 
time modest and decent; and, next to 
their shape, their manners and conyer- 
sation are highly interesting. One in- 
discretion, however, cannot be con- 
cealed; they cannot keep the most 
trifling secret, which compels their 
husbands to use much reserve. EXx- 
cepting this failing, they are completely 
mistresses of their household. 
Both sexes here possess an irresis ti- 
ble love of pleasure; and love, of 
course, is an affair of the last import- 
ance. But, as they wish to be the sole 
objects of this passion, the trouble and 
disorder occasioned by jealousy in the 
best regulated families frequently pro- 
duces the most fatal eflects. The 
Tinians are naturaiiy curious, lively, 
and irritable, soon angry and soon ap- 
peased. Their words once given they 
religiously keep, and their gratitude for 
benefits received is without bounds ; on 
the other hand, their resentment of i in- 
juries is excessive; but this, as in 
some other islands, is not transmitted 
to the relatives or children of the 
offending party, and thus perpetuated 
from generation to generation ; the in- 
habitants of Tinos - are extremely hu- 
mane, and will often confer a favour, 
at the risk of their personal interest. 
Such among them who happen to be 
unfortunate, are sure to find friends 
and brothers in their countrymen ; 
and, any person wishing to find a 
refuge among them when persecuted 
for any political offence, is notonly cer- 
tain of an asylum, but the islanders 
would rather perish than give him up. 
In fact, strangers in general are fa- 
vourably received and invited to re- 
fresh themselves, and partake of tic 
usnal meals of the family. People in 
easy circumstances offer Liqueurs, con- 
fectionary, and coflce ; but, the great- 
est charm is the freedom aud the man- 
ner with which these obligations are 
conferred. Thus, these islanders are 
reckoned the most hospitable in the 
Archipelago ; their: benevolence is ex- 
ercised without any sordid view of re- 
compence ; and, in giving this senti- 
ment its whole extent, we might say 
that they practise virtue for its own 
sake. Avarice, rapacity,.envy, du- 
plicity, and those vile and base ypas- 
“” sions 
