BD -. ura. 



SICILY. 



of Da-aria wu completed in the same way. Khabarow, a 

 Pols by birth, had wcaped from Yeneseisk with a few exile*, and after 

 wandering about for some time in the woods which surround Lake 

 Baikal, be and hit followen settled, beyond the present boundary of 

 Siberia, on the Amor, in 62* 9' N. lat, where they built a email 

 fortnm. oalled Albaun. A they had offended their neighbours, 

 aome tribe* of Toonguses, they feared they might be overpowered by 

 number*, and offered their conquest to the emperor of BOMat, 

 soliciting at the aame time his forgiveness for their offence*. Mean- 

 while tiie Toonguses had applied to the Chinese for assistance, and 

 dispute* subsequently arose between the courts of Peking and St. 

 Petersburg ; but by the intervention of the Jesuits who resided at 

 Peking, a treaty was concluded in 1689, by which the boundary 

 between Siberia and the Chinese empire was established. This treaty 

 was confirmed by the treaty of 1727, in which Kiachta and Maimatshin 

 were appointed as the only places where a commercial intercourse 

 between the two countries should take place. At the same time 

 Russia obtained permission to send every ten years a spiritual embassy 

 to Peking, in order that the prisoners taken by the Chinese at the last 

 conquest of Albaaiii, and their offspring, might receive instruction in 



. 



(Pallas; Qeorgi ; Fischer ; Sauer; Humboldt; Sarytcheff, Account of 

 YoyagtofJXtcorciy to the North-Eatt of Siberia; Klaproth, Magazin 

 Arialiqut; Cook, Third Voyage to the Pacific Ocean; Cochrane, 

 A'arratire of a Pedatrian Journey through Susnia and Siberian Tar- 

 lory ; Erdman ; Kotzebue, Voyage of Ditcovery into the South Sea, <tc. ; 

 Beecbey, Voyage to Ike Pacific; Rose, Seite nach dem Ural, deni Altai, 

 uu( dn* Catpuche* Metre; Wrangel, Seiie tangs der Nordkuste von 

 Sikerim tuid auf dew Bameere, and Statittiiche und Ethnogr. ; Nach- 

 richtat iiber 'die Kuttitclten Betitzungen in Nord America; London 

 Geuyraphical Journal, vol. viii.) 



S1BOURNE. [PYRENEES, BASSES.] 



SICILIES, KINGDOM OF THE TWO, is the title of an Italian 

 monarchy, which comprises the southern part of the peninsula, being 

 nearly one-third of continental Italy, and also the island of Sicily. It 

 is the largest and most populous of the Italian States. The area and 

 population are as follows : 



In administrative language the continental territories are styled 

 ' Dominj di qua del Faro ' (' Dominions on this side the Strait of 

 Messina'), while Sicily is designated 'Dominj di la del Faro' 

 ('Dominions beyond the Strait of Messina'). Writers also use the 

 denomination of Sicilia Citeriore and Sicilia Ulteriore, the designation 

 having reference to Naples, the capital. A geographical and statistical 

 account of each of these two great divisions is given under NAPLES, 

 Kingdom of, and SICILY ; and a sketch of the history is given under 

 NAPLES, City, and at the end of SICILY. 



SICILY, a large island in the Mediterranean Sea, which is separated 

 by the narrow Strait of Messina, from the coast of Calabria. It ia of 

 triangular form, and obtained its ancient name Trinacria from its three 

 principal promontories: Lilyboeuui, now Capo Boeo, the most western 

 point, which is about 90 miles distant from Cape Bon on the coast of 

 Tunis; Pelorug, now Capo di Faro, the north-eastern angle, which 

 faces the rock of Scylla, 3 miles distant on the Calabrian coast ; and 

 Pachynus, now Cape Passaro, the south-east point, which is 60 miles 

 from the island of Malta. The length of the northern and southern 

 rides of the island, not including the windings of the coast, is about 

 175 mile* each ; and that of the eastern side is about 115 miles. The 

 area is 10,536 square miles according to the latest official returns, and 

 the population at the census of 1851 amounted to 2,091,580. In the 

 article SARDKOSA, it is stated that the island of Sardinia is, according 

 to some, greater, according to others, less than Sicily ; the true area 

 of Sardinia is very nearly 9300 square miles, so that the island of 

 Sicily exceeds it in area by about 1200 square miles. 



A number of mountain-groups extend across the island from east 

 to west, bearing various names ; the Mounts Pelorias, or Dinamari, 

 between Melazzo and Taormina, which seem to be a continuation of 

 the Apennines of Calabria; the Heraoi Monies, farther west; the 

 Nebrode*, now Monti Madonia, south of Cefalu and Termini, the 

 highest summit of which, near the town of Polizzi, is said to be 

 6000 feet high ; the Crates, the ramifications of winch extend to 

 Palermo, and one of the highest summits of which ia that of Calata- 

 mauro, near Corleone ; and, lastly, Mount San Giuliano, the ancient 

 Eryx. These mountains are much nearer to the northern than to 

 the southern coast, and the longest water-courses are consequently on 

 the south side of them. Toward the centre of the island are the 

 limestone mountains of Enna, now Castrogiovanni, about 3000 feet 

 high, and Mount Artisino, which is still higher ; both of these are 

 offsets of the Nebrodes ridges : and farther south the lower groups of 

 the mountains of Note, formed of tertiary rocks, extending to Cape 



Passaro; and the hills of Modica, the Hybla Minor of tho ancients. 

 Few summits in Sicily, with the exception of JBtna, exceed 4000 feet 

 in height. Towards the eastern coast rises the detached group of 

 .Etna, which occupies an area nearly 90 miles iu circumference : the 

 highest summit of .Etna is 10,617 feet above the sea. [/ETNA.] At 

 the southern base of yKtua lies the plain of Catania, the largest iu 

 the island. There are smaller plains along the southern coast, near 

 Alicata, Terranova, Marsala, and at Melazzo on the northern coast ; 

 but the larger part of the surface of the island consists of mountains 

 and volleys. The northern coast is generally high, the mountains 

 in many places coming close to the sea. Few of the rivers are 

 perennial. Of these few the principal aru, the Qiaretta, or Simsethus, 

 which flows eastward through the plain of Catania ; the Fiume Salso, 

 the ancient Himera, which flows southward, and enters the sea near 

 Alicata; and the Belicc, or Hypsa, which flows into the sea near 

 Selinunte, the site of the ruins of Selinus. Most of the rest are 

 torrents, dry or nearly so in summer, but swelling into formidable 

 floods iu the rainy season. 



Most of the mountains have been iu the course of ages stripped 

 of their ancient forests, and they now present a naked and bam>u 

 appearance. The sides of .Etna however are still covered with fine 

 forests of oaks, beach, maple, birch, fir, and magnificent chestnut- 

 trees. A few other forests are scattered over the surface of the island, 

 the principal being that of Carouia, near the northern coast ; that of 

 Capellaro, south of Palermo ; the woods near Costelvetrano, on the 

 southern coast; and the forest of Qiummia, west of Caltagii'one. The 

 mineral productions of Sicily consist of copper and silver, which were 

 once worked, but are now abandoned ; cinnabar, sulphur, which is 

 found in great abundance, especially near San Cataldo, Galati, Butera, 

 Bifara, Tavara, and Montegraude, and forms a considerable article of 

 export from Alicata, Girgenti, and Palma. 



Sicily seems to contain no iron. Marble, alabaster, and other kinds 

 of fine stones ore found iu abundance. Amber is found near 

 Catania. There is rock-salt near Castrogiovanni, but the greater part 

 of the salt consumed or exported is sea-salt, which is made in 

 extensive salterns along the coast, especially near Trapaui, Marsala, 

 and Agosta. The exported salt is mostly put on board Baltic or 

 Norway traders. 



Sicily has few lakes. The Lake of Lentini, so called from the town 

 which occupies the site of the ancient Greek city of Leontini, which 

 stood on the south-east shore of the lake, lies near the east coast 

 between Catania and Syracuse. It is of considerable extent, about 12 

 miles in circumference, but stagnant, shallow, and insalubrious. It 

 abounds with fish. The plain northward from Lentini, now called the 

 Plain of Catania, is the ancient Leontinus Campus, celebrated for its 

 luxuriant fertility. An ancient tradition fixes the abode of the Lsestry- 

 gones in this plain. The Lake of Peryusa, near Castrogiovanni, in the 

 centre of the island, is about 4 miles round. It is supposed to be 

 the Lake Fergus mentioned in ancient tradition of the abduction of 

 Prosperine by Pluto. There is a small lake near Kandazzo at the 

 northern foot of ^Etna ; and another called Cantarro near the coast 

 of the western part of the island, a few miles from Castel-Vetrano. 



The sea around the coast of Sicily abounds with fish of various 

 sorts, but the most productive fisheries are those of the migrating 

 fish, the sardine, and tunny. Most of the fish are consumed in Sicily 

 and Naples and other parts of Italy. 



The cultivation of corn is said to occupy about one-half of the 

 tilled land. The best wheat is that of Termini. Corn was formerly 

 dear in the sea-port towns, owing to the want of roads in the interior. 

 The lower classes, especially in the interior, eat barley bread. Indian- 

 corn and beans are cultivated to a small extent. Wine is made iu 

 abundance, especially in the southern part of the island. The white 

 wines of Marsala, Castel-Vetrano, Catania, and Bronte are exported iu 

 considerable quantities. The amareua of Agosta and the muscat of Syra- 

 cuse are fine dessert wines. The red wine of Faro is a good common 

 wine. Sicilian wine is exported to England, Germany, Spanish 

 America, and Brazil. The distillery of brandy has been greatly 

 improved of late years, and a considerable quantity is exported to 

 South America, as well as tartar, both white aud red. Dried raisins, 

 called zibib, are exported from Messina and other ports. Messina is 

 the depot for the currants of the Lipari Islands, of which about 12,000 

 barrels are yearly exported. 



Olive-oil of an inferior quality is produced chiefly along the northern 

 coast. The oil of Tusa aud Cefalu is considered the best. Olive- 

 plantations might easily be spread all over Sicily. Liuseed-oil is made 

 at Catania, and along the southern coast. Lemons and oranges arc 

 plentiful and fine, and are exported in considerable quantities ; but 

 much of the fruit is left to rot on the ground. The manufacture of 

 citric acid, and essences of lemon, citron, orange, anise-seed, lavender, 

 rosemary, and bergamot, constitutes another branch of industry. 

 Silk, a staple article of Sicilian produce, ia sold to French aud Swiss 

 manufacturers. The silk of Foria is the best ; and next to it is the 

 silk of Piana, Rametta, and San Martiuo. Measiua is the great mart 

 for silk. 



Liquorice-juice is made chiefly at Catania, Patti, and Palermo, and 

 exported to England and the north of Europe, where it is employed iu 

 brewing. The pods of the carob-tree, which grows wild in the southern 

 part of the island, are exported to Trieste, Naples, Leghorn, and Genoa : 



