I V I C A. 



389 



j.-^' -.j. 



I.e.,. 



Even at the last, he was betrayed by his allies, 

 rather than conquered l>y his enemies. Having been 

 invited by his father-in-law, ami confederate in arms, 

 Borchus of Mauritania, to join with him in a friendly 

 conference with the Roman generals, and having come 

 unarmed according to agreement, his attendants were 

 basely massacred in rold blood, and he himself deliver- 

 ed up bound into the hands of his implacable enemies. 

 Being curried to Homo, he and his two sons were led 

 through the city in chaim, at the triumph decreed to 

 Mnriu* for the conquest of Numidia ; and, after the 

 conclusion of the procession, was thrown into a dun- 

 geon, where he was starved to death. See Sallust's 

 Juigmrtkine H'ar ; Epitome of 1. ivy, book Ixvii. ; 1'lu- 

 tarch's Liiet of' Moriut and Sylla ; and I-'lorus' History 



>me, book ii. (9) 



IVK'A is an island of the Mediterranean, under the 

 dominion of Spun, the largest of those denominated 

 the Pitymttf, a name of doubtful etymology, derived 

 by tome of the anoente from their abounding in pines, 

 and by other* from certain earthen vessels fabricated 

 by the inhabitant*. Ivica lie* ICi leagues from the pro- 

 montory of Denia, the nearest part of the Spanish 

 coast, and is separated by a channel alwve two miles 

 wide from the island of Formentera. It extends seven 

 leagues in length by 3 \ in breadth, and has two har- 

 bours, one known l>y the same apprll.it ion on the south- 

 east, and St. Anthony on the north-west. The climate 

 is mild and salubrious, the cold always very moderate 

 in winter, while the sismimr heat is tempered by breez- 

 es from the sea. No venomous animal is found in the 



Ivica is in general high and mountainous, and hor- 

 deted almost around it* whole extent by prpctpit- 

 ous rocks. The coast sinks so rapidly, that, within a 

 mile of the shore, the depth of water is twenty or thir- 

 ty fathom*. On the south-west it declines snore gra- 

 dually, but en the north the sea is very deep. Fertile 

 i of agreeable appearance are intr*yened among 



le*M 



the hill*, and the *oil require* nothing but tt 

 try of man to render it productive. The hand of na- 

 ture dec* every thing here. Grain of different kind* 

 is easily obtained : abundance of olives, grapes, almond--, 

 and water-melon* of superior quality, gruw cither wild, 

 or almost entirely without cultivation ; and tho excel- 

 lence of the fig* -was 'celebrated so long ago a* the tine 

 of I'liny. Hut the richest part* of the ground remain 

 unoccupied : no more grain is raised than what is ab- 

 *oliHly requisite for the necessities of the iulnliilauti, 

 who are swayed to a surprising extent by prejudice*. 

 Agriculture i* therefore very far behind. Oil and wine 

 jre *o negligently made, that not above half the advan- 

 tage result* that should be derived from the fruit* em- 

 ployed. The inhabitant* have even threatened the 

 safety of persons, more experienced and liberal than 

 themselves, who were desirous of introducing improve- 

 ment. Game is plentiful, and the ordinary iiiHsua 

 ticaUd animal* are common. 



The inhabitant* are for the most part of middle size, 

 tawny complexion, and endowed with much person- 

 al activity. They are of a mild disposition, though pos- 

 eanng distinguished CD in up when it is roused, a* has 

 bean wen in their conflicts with the Barbary corsairs. 

 they are exceedingly indossx, and testify an ex- 

 traordinary aversion to labour. One of the governors 

 of Ivica endeavoured to cultivate mulberries, and to 

 the breeding of the silk-worm. 



j, and mate very fine and beautiful 



was obtained. But this new and productive source of Ivii 

 benefit was soon lost by the extreme apathy of the in- '*^V 

 habitants. They speak a jargon of the Spanish language 

 with a guttural accent; and the dialect of the women 

 is almost unintelligible. 



Nothing remarkable appears in the costume of these 

 people, except that the female islanders are partial to 

 yellow. They likewise entertain a remarkable predi- 

 lection for their hair, which is preserved to an astonish- 

 ing length ; and, not content with this profusion, it i 

 far from uncommon for women in the country, to wear 

 a cow's tail in addition to their natural tresses. 



Though little attention be paid to agriculture, the in- 

 dustry of the Ivicans is somewhat excited by the fish- 

 cries and tlie collection of salt. They are very expert 

 seamen, and about t)0 vessels of different sizes are to he- 

 seen in the principal port. Various kinds of fisheries 

 are practised, and diversified according to the seasons, 

 and the presence of the particular species offish. In win- 

 ter there is both net-fishing on the coast, and the deep- 

 sea fishery with lines. The chief capture of the form- 

 er is a Miiall fish, not highly esteemed, the sparus sma- 

 rus of ichthyologists, but in such quantities as to em- 

 ploy one- half the fishermen, and afford a very .season- 

 able supply of food. The deep-sea fishery is conducted 

 at the depth of about 100 fathoms, and obtains greater 

 variety. In summer, nets are stretched to the island 

 of Formentrru, for the capture of one species, and in 

 autumn for that of another called lampuga, which is in 

 vast abundance. Fart of the fish thus taken is salted, 

 and some exported, Imt not enough to balance the im- 

 port of oalteil cod, considerable quantities of which are 

 consumed in the island. 



Many hundreds of the islanders arc occupied during 

 Augu-t in collecting salt, produced by evaporation from 

 ponds or marshes, which is carried in -loads by mules 

 to the coast, where it is taken in by lor, i n vessels. It 

 is almost the sole export, together with a little wool ; 

 for the exportation of grain, fruit, and oil, though the 

 principal natural product* of the island, is injudiciously 

 prohibited by government. The inhabitants therefore 

 w.mt erery stimulus to exertion. They seek no more 

 from agriculture, than to satisfy their exigencies ; and 

 bad seasons expose them to famine, while every super- 

 abundance of harvest is allowed to rot in the granaries. 

 All the arts practised by them also are restricted to 

 what necessity demands, and their main object is shel- 

 ter. Their costume is rude, and their dwellings void 

 of ornament. In traversing the i.-land,a stranger would 

 believe himself transported to a country where civili- 

 sation is in an early stage. F.xccpt in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of the villager, or leading to different 

 port* where the salt is embarked, the roads are scarcely 

 passable. 



The island is partitioned into five districts : 1. The Town ( 

 Plain of the C r Kulalia; 3. Kalanzat ; 4. Por- i viaL 



. many ; and, 5. The Salines. The first is the most im- 

 portant, and contains the town of Ivica, wh.th consists 

 of about 200 houses, together with a cathedral, six 

 churches, a convent, and barracks for troops. It is 

 commanded by a small fortress, occupying an eminence 

 on the coast, to the east of which are the suburbs, con- 

 sisting of 420 houses. The total population of the 

 place amounts to about '2600 or 2700 persons. This 

 town is the seat of a governor, and was formerly a !>i- 

 hop'i see. Its port is spacious and convenient, and 

 sheltered from all tides ; but although presenting good 

 anchorage at present, it is gradually choking up with 



