245 



CORSICA. 



Gorsfca. 



Bounda- 

 ries. 



C^onsicA, (the Island of,) is situated in the Mediterra- 

 nean Sea, between the 41st and 43d degrees of N. lati- 

 tude, and the 8th and 10th degrees of E. longitude. It is 

 bounded on the north by the Ligurian Sea and the Gulf 

 of Genoa; on the east by the Etruscan Sea; on the 

 south by a strait of about 10 miles in breadth, which 

 separates it from Sardinia ; and on the west by the Me- 

 diterranean. It is about 40 leagues distant from the 

 coast of Antibes. It is nearly at the same distance from 

 the coast of Genoa. It is 20 leagues distant from Tus- 

 can}', and about four from Sardinia. Its greatest length 

 from the most northern part, wliich is Cape Corso, to 

 the southernmost near Bonifacio, is about from 3S to 

 39 French leagues. Its breadth, which' is unequal, is 

 in some places 18 leagues, in others it is 15, and in 

 some it is yet much less. Its coasts are indented by 

 several gulfs and creeks, which renders it difficult to 

 ascertain its precise extent. It cannot, however, be less 

 than 120 leagues round, and its superficial measurement 

 may be estimated at 527 square leagues. A chain of 

 mountains traverses the island in form nearly of a cross, 

 beginning at Bastia, and thence to its most southern 

 point dividing it into two parts, the east and west, 

 which are distinguished by the inhabitants as the parts 

 on this side and on that side of the mountain. Fertile 

 rallies extend on all sides around the mountains in the 

 interior, reaching even to the sea-coast, and agreeably di- 

 versified by rising grounds, which, as well as the moun- 

 tains themselves, or at least the lower of them, are also 

 considerably productive. The loftier of the mountains 

 are for the most part of the year covered with snow. * 



The climate of Corsica is mild, the cold which pro- 

 ceeds from the mountains being tempered by the sea- 

 breezes, and on the other hand, the wind which blows 

 over them rendering the summer's heat less oppressive. 

 Violent storms are not uncommon in the winter months. 

 The air, however, is for the most part clear and salu- 

 brious, except in places in the vicinity of stagnating 

 waters and marshes, which are here numerous, and the 

 inhabitants live to a very great age. 



Corsica produces wheat, rye, barley, millet, but no 

 data. The horses and mules are fed with bailey. The i 

 returns obtained here by the cultivator are very great, 

 extending to 60, 80, or even to 100 or more, for one. 

 This abundant increase is by no means the consequence 

 of superior skill or industry on the part of the occupier. 

 On the contrary, agriculture is here in a very imper- 

 fect state. The implements of husbandry are bad, and 

 the Corsicans do not make the best use even of those 

 which they have. Their labour does no more than 

 scratch the surface of the earth ; and the advantages to 

 be derived from manures, which might be had in great 

 plenty, are almost altogether unknown. There may be 

 seme exceptions to these remarks, and abundant liar- 

 vests, it may be expected, will be found chiefly in those 

 parts where there is the most of industry and of atten- 

 tion to tire means of improvement. But the great 

 source of those plentiful returns, is the prodigious na- 

 tural fertility of the soil, which is manifested, as in 



other respects, so most happily and usefully by the Corsica. 

 great strength of the stalks that distinguish the grain "— -v— 

 of this country, and to which it is owing that the weight 

 of the ears never causes any lodging of the crop. There 

 are two circumstances connected with the state of this 

 island, to which, perhaps, chiefly may be attributed the 

 neglect of its agriculture. These are the figure of the 

 island, and the political state of the country. From the 

 vicinity of the most improvable parts of this island to 

 the sea, and the consequent fear of pirates, it became 

 less an object to bestow a careful cultivation, when the 

 chances were so great that the same hands which sow- 

 ed should not be permitted in quietness to reap the har- 

 vest. The imperfect state of internal regulations with- 

 in the island itself, would naturally contribute to the 

 effect thus produced by the fear of danger from with- 

 out. It is impossible to estimate the new degrees of 

 activity in cultivation, and of consequent benefit to 

 those engaged in it, that might be the result of the set- 

 tlement of this country in a state of greater security, 

 and of adequate encouragements being held out to an 

 improved agriculture. Even a farther extension of lea- 

 ses, which for most part have been limited here to one 

 year, would lead to many meliorations, and to the sub- 

 stitution of a good method of culture, in the place of 

 the abusive practices which ruined the land. These 

 advantages have, in consequence of the improvements 

 in those respects that have been already introduced, 

 been experienced in some degree, and their farther ex- 

 tension would no doubt follow in a just proportion up- 

 on a more enlarged operation of the same causes. 



At the time that Corsica, in the year 1 766, came into Forests, 

 the possession of France, it was ascertained that 160 

 square leagues of its surface were occupied by forests. 

 The most considerable of them is that of Vico. Among 

 the resinous trees found in these forests, the pine and 

 the larch are distinguished by their beautiful veining 

 and the excellence of the timber. This is the case par- 

 ticularly as to the larch, which has the appearance of 

 being a beautiful variety of the larch of the Alps, or of 

 the cedar of Lebanon. Both those kinds of trees, in 

 respect as well of the quality of the wood as of its di- 

 mensions, may serve for the parts above water of vessels 

 of the largest size, and are indeed, for that purpose, su- 

 perior to any thing that can be obtained from the north 

 of Europe. It is to be observed, that the timber of Cor- 

 sica generally is much harder than might be expected 

 in so southern a latitude, owing perhaps to the rockiness 

 of the soil of the country, to the perpetual currents 

 of fresh air that are passing through the vallies, and 

 to tlie cool temperature proceeding' from the moun- 

 tains. 



Several cantons of the island of Corsica produce excel- Wines, 

 lent wines. At Cape Corso there are two sorts of white 

 wine made, one of which has so much resemblance to 

 Malaga, that a great quantity of it is every year export- 

 ed to Germany, and is sold as the genuine wine of that 

 name. Fart of it is also sent to Leghorn for the Eng- 

 lish market, where in like manner it passes for the true 



* The loftiest of the mountains of Corsica, is that called by the ancients Mons Aureus, and now Gradaccio, or Monte Rotondo. It 

 is of a very great height, and commands a most extensive view of the whole of the island, together with Sardinia. There 

 is also from it a distant prospect of Italy and France, and even of the Mediterranean, with many of its little isles. This mountain if 

 »f very difficult access, the upper part of it being almost a perpendicular rock. 



