606 TURKISH OR GRECIAN ISLES. 



Paros lies between the islands of Luxia and Melos. Like all the 

 other Greek islands, it contains the most striking and magnificent 

 ruins of antiquity; but it is chiefly renowned for the beauty and 

 whiteness ot its marble. 



Santorin is one of the southernmost islands in the Archipelago, 

 and was iormerly called Calista, and afterwards Thera. Though seem- 

 ingly covered with pumice-stones, yet, through the industry of the 

 inhabitants, who are about 10,000, it produces barley and wine, with, 

 some wheat. One-third of the people are of the Latin church, and 

 subject to a popish bishop. Near this island another arose ot the 

 same name, from the bottom of the sea, in 1707. At the time of its 

 birth there was an earthquake, attended with most dreadful light- 

 nings and thunders, and boilings of the sea for several days, so that, 

 when it arose out of the sea, it was a mere volcano ; but the burning 

 soon ceased. It is about 200 feet above the sea ; and at the time of 

 its first emerging, it was about a mile broad, and five miles in cir- 

 cumference, but :t has since increased. Several other islands of the 

 Archipelago appear to have had the like original; but the sea in 

 their neighbourhood is so deep as not to be fathomed. 



The islands in the Ionian Sea, on the other side of Greece, belong- 

 ed to Venice till the late revolution, and the cession by the French of 

 the greater part of the Venetian dominions to Austria. They were 

 first occupied by the French, but were taken from them by the Rus- 

 sians anti Turks, who, in i800, formed them into an aristocratical re- 

 public, by the name of the Republic of the Seven Islands, which 

 was recognised by the treaty of Amiens. This republic is under the 

 protection of Russia and Turkey, to the latter of which it pays a cer- 

 tain tribute every three years. But Russia appears to take the great- 

 est interest in these islands ; and seems to treat them as a distant 

 possession appertaining to its empire. There are now nearly 10,000 

 Russian troops in Corfu and some others of these islands; which are 

 nominally governed by a legislative body and a president, but in re- 

 ality by the Russian general and troops. The seven islands which 

 compose this republic, are Corfu, Paxo, Santa Maura, Cefalonia, 

 Tneaki, Z:aite, and Cert:/o 



Corfu, the ancient Corcyra, and the Phaecia of Homer, who 

 place b here his gardens of Alcinous, is about 45 miles long and 20 

 broad. It is situate opposite Albania, near the continent, between 39 

 and 40 degrees of north latitude, and 19 and 20 of east longitude. 

 The air is healthy, the soil fertile, particularly in the northern part; 

 and the fruits ot every kind excellent, especially a delicious species 

 of figs, there called Fracazzoni. Its other principal produce is salt, 

 oil, and honey. The number of inhabitants is about 70,000. The 

 town of Corfu, the capital, has an excellent harbour, is a place of con- 

 siderable strength, and the seat of government for this republic. 



Paxo, or Paxu, situate at a little distance to the south of Corfu, is 

 about 15 miles in circumference : it produces wine, oil, and almonds; 

 but has but few inhabitants. The town is called San Nicolo, and has a 

 good harbour. Opposite to it is a small island called Antipaxo. 



Santa Maura, the ancient Leucadia, is about fifty miles in cir- 

 cumference : it was anciently joined to the continent, but the isthmus 

 was cut through by the Carthaginians, or, as others say, the Corinthi- 

 ans : the channel between the island and the continent is at present, 

 it is said, not more than 50 paces broad. It produces corn, wine, oil, 

 aitrons; pomegranates, almonds, and other fruits, and has fine pastures. 



