IONIAN ISLANDS. 



riculture 

 produc- 



There are petroleum wells in Zante, near the shore, 

 about 10 miles from the city, which produces year- 

 ly 80 or 100 barrels of 150 pounds each. The largest 

 is about 50 feet in circuit, but only a few feet in 

 depth ; and there are others at a short distance, 

 wherein the petroleum is continually accumulating. 

 Sulphureous exhalations, and the frequent earthquakes, 

 denote uninterrupted subterraneous fires. 



The Ionian islands are in general hilly and unequal. 

 T^ highest ground of Cephalonia rises 3000 feet above 

 the level of the sea. Much of the surface is rocky, some 

 parts stony, and there are fertile grounds interspersed. 

 The extensive plain of Zante, in particular, resembles 

 one continued vineyard, with patches in tillage or pas- 

 ture, and is the source of great wealth to the inhabit- 

 ant*. The principal productions of the Ionian islands 

 are grain, fruit, cotton, honey, wax, oil, hareskins, 

 and lambskins ; but, of the first, the Quantity is not 

 nearly adequate to the consumption of the inhabitants, 

 who draw their supplies from the neighbouring conti- 

 nent, as the inequality of the surface affords little 

 cope for the improvements of agriculture. Neverthe- 

 less, every advantage is taken of the smallest portions 

 of toil. Terraces are formed on the declivities, their 

 culture is carefully attended to, and rich harvests are 

 obtained. Vines and olives grow utiivt-r-ullv in great 

 luxuriance, and are the chief objects of notice ; the 

 first on account of their fruit for home consumpt and 

 export, the second for the oil afforded by them. Tin- 

 grapes are of a diminutive kind, known in Britain, 

 when dried, by the name of currants, of which the 

 average crop is about seven million of pounds in Zante 

 lone. In some yean it is nine or ten, and has even 

 amounted to twelve millions. They are gathered some- 

 what earlier than other grapes, and spread out for 

 eight or ten days previous to being packed ; but there 

 are instances of the harvest being totally ruined by rain*. 

 Cephalonia produces five or six million pounds of the 

 same fruit ; Ithaca only 5,000 or 6,000 ; Opinion u 

 likewise yields 80,000 or 90,000 pounds of honey year- 

 ly ; rn.1. in the i-ljunl of Ccrigo, it was computed there 

 were 1, 4O bee hives in the year 1811. About 100,000 

 pounds of cotton of very fine quality arc produced in 

 Cephalonia. 3,000 hare skin*, and 5,(KX> lamb ikini. 



The fish on the coasts of ( orfu, Paxo, Santa Maura, 

 and some of the other islands, and large eels caught in 

 the inland pools afford a plentiful subsistence to the 

 inhabitants. Seals retreat to the caverns of Zante, 

 where they are hunted for the sake of their tkins. This 

 island seems to be more infested with noxious animals 

 than the rest. A small kind of mutquitoe, whose bite 

 is extremely painful, appears in myriad* ; a species of 

 centipede, described as an inch or an inch and a half 

 in length, is said to inflict a mortal wound. A singular 

 spider is also much dreaded here, though probably with 

 little reason, which, like some others of the genus, 

 constructs a door with a hinge, and lie* in wait behind 

 it, for the prey. Its poison is reputed very active, and 

 the only cure is the excision of the wounded part. SCOT- 

 pans, lizards, and small snakes, are not uncommon. 

 Birds of prey, and poultry in general, are scarce, nor are 

 there many of other species, except birds of passage, and 

 water fowl among the marshes. Mules are em i 

 in agricultural operations, and horses and cattle arc 

 brought from the continent Coati and sheep are nu- 

 merous In Ceriga ; and the wild animals of the islands 

 ye foxes, hare*, and rabbits. 



In regard to the products of human industry. Salt 

 works are carried on to a great extent in Corfu at 



Man.!,.. 



three different places, Potamos, Kastrados, and Lgfki- 

 mo, or Dragotino, producing what is both of coarse and 

 fine quality. The Venetians had 800 pans at Lefkimo, ' 

 from which fine salt was obtained ; and it has been sug- 

 gested lately, that very great profits may be derived 

 from its fabrication. Five or six thousand tons of the 

 same commodity are made in Santa Maura. Oil of olives 

 is expressed in large quantities in Corfu, Cephalonia, 

 and a small portion in almost all the rest of the 

 islands. It is observed that the quality of the oil 

 depends greatly on the nature of the soil, and the mode 

 of manufacture. Thus, from the greater care of the in- 

 habitants, that of Paxo is esteemed the best. The oil 

 of Corfu is divided into four classes ; first, eatable oil, 

 which is selected from the second, the ordinary oil of 

 commerce ; thirdly, kernel oil, produced by passing 

 kernels a third time through the press, which is, in 

 general, 'of a chesnut-brown colour, and in a congealed 

 state. It is of inferior quality, and serves for little else 

 than the manufacture of soap. The fourth kind is black 

 and thick, which is not put into casks until it has been 

 mixed with a third of kernel oil. Abundant harvest* 

 produce towards a million of jars, or 250,000 casks an- 

 nually in Corfu. About 25,000 or 30,000 casks of oil are 

 made in Cephalonia, commonly green and thick, and not 

 affording above 3,000 or -1,000 from that quantity of good 

 eatable oil. Paxo produces only wine and oil ; Santa 

 Maura wine, oil, and salt. From 30,000 to 35,000 

 casks of wine, both white and red, are made in Cepha- 

 lonia yearly. The red, consisting of 15,000 casks, is 

 dry and spirituous. Of the remaining 20,000, there 

 are 12,000 of agreeable taste, and 8,000 muscadel, one- 

 third of which is of inferior quality. In the same island, 

 3,000 or 4,000 casks of brandy are made annually ; and 

 there are two establishments for the preparation of li- 

 queurs from aromatic herbs and flowers. Two kinds of li- 

 queurs are likewise made in Cerigo. As the cotton of Ce- 

 phalonia is very fine, muslins equal to those of India may 

 be manufactured of it. Coarse cotton cloths are likewise 

 fabricated here, and in the neighbouring islands, among 

 which is nankeen, used by the Venetians for clothing 

 their troops. Silk stuffs, and carpets of goats' hair for 

 the Venetian gondolas, are made in Zai 



The trade of the Ionian isles is either reciprocal among Commerce, 

 themselves, or foreign, with the Morea and Albania, or 

 with Venice and Trieste, and other ports of Europe. Export'. 

 They export their own produce and manufactures, such 

 great quantities of currants, to England, the trade in 

 which ha- increased much of late \ cars, including also 

 the produce of part of the neighbouring contim nt: S:i!t 

 from Corfu and Santa Maura, chiefly to the Port of 

 GOTO at the mouth of the I'D. Tr.ffic in oil has been 

 more flourishing since the year 1802, and most part of 

 it is exported to Venice, from whence it is distributed 

 to various quarters of the continent. Brandy is sent 

 from Cephalonia to Trieste, and to Venice, Leghorn, 

 England, and Russia Cotton i- carried from the same 

 islands to Zante, where it is manufactured into goods 

 suitable for turlums, and thence exported to Constan- 

 tinople. The honey is principally consumed at Venice, 

 hare skins are sent to Corfu, and Limb skins to Trieste 

 and Senigaglia 



The imports of the Ionian islands consist of cattle ' m P iU - 

 and grain from the Morea, in proportion to the neces- 

 sities of the population. Pasturage is scanty in the greater 

 number of the islands. Paxo doe* not produce more grain 

 than is adequate to one month's consumption, and it re- 

 mained a long time ui inhabited, owing perhaps to its 

 natural sterility. Between 4000 and 500O peasants an- 



