Sappho's leap. 13 



paraded through the streets in a chau' on occa- 

 sion of great festivals; when sick people, and 

 especially sick children, are brought out and 

 placed before the Saint, in full confidence that 

 such mummeries will contribute to their reco- 

 very. The English rule seems anything but 

 popular at Corfu ; at least, so I judge from the 

 remarks of the Greek, gentlemen who accompa- 

 nied us to Alexandria. 



After leaving the coast of Albania, and pass- 

 ing Cape Leucas, the scene of hapless Sap- 

 pho's fatal leap, we passed Ithaca on our left, 

 and Cephalonia, the largest of the Ionian isles, 

 on our right. In Cephalonia, Sir Charles Na- 

 pier, when appointed Military Resident of 

 the island, in 1822, had first an opportunity 

 of displaying his extraordinary administrative 

 ability on an extended scale. He found all 

 departments urgently in want of reform, and 

 at once set about its introduction. He con- 

 structed vast public works, made roads through 

 the mountains, introduced improvements in 

 agriculture by a model farm, assisted the indi- 

 gent cultivators with loans, opened roads to the 

 markets for their produce, constructed quays, 

 erected lighthouses, and improved the harbour, 



