39^ LETTER FROM A FRENCH OFFICER 



Vico contains the frnefr. forefts on the ifiand. The 

 golfo di Sagona, on the one fide, and that of Porto on 

 the other, facilitate their commerce. This province 

 is fhaded by numerous chefnut-trees and olives ; its 

 vallies are richly fupplied with water, and yet agricul- 

 ture is in a very poor condition. Vico is but a village, 

 and at Guagno, not far from it, are warm baths. 



Corte, the centre of the ifiand, is in the fame bad 

 ftate, notwithftanding the high road from Baftia, and 

 its abundance of water, woods and vallies, which 

 might fo eafily be turned to profit. Gold, fulphur, 

 and talc, are found here. The city of this name, 

 which was formerly the capital of the ifiand, is a mi- 

 fer^able open fpot, lying on the declivity of a lofty 

 mountain, and from its foot looks like an old forfaken 

 fwallow's neft. A certain Strangelo, who has publifhed 

 a map of Corfica, mentions, in the hiftorical part of 

 it, that, from January 1767. to March 1768. no lefs 

 than 47,000 foreigners fettled at Corte, which has not 

 room to contain 4000 perfons. Probably it is an error 

 of the prefs ; three nullos too much ! et fie de ceteris. 



The province Calvi is leaft adapted to agriculture, 

 excepting fome glens that lie towards the fea. The 

 city of this name, built on a rock, is tolerably ftrong. 

 The infide is quite in the corfican manner. 



Algagliola and Kola Roffa are two fmall villages on 

 the fea-coaft, which carry on a petty commerce. 



Belagna, fo much extolled for its fertility, is limited 

 in that and its wealth to the tingle Pieve Tuani. Oil 

 forms the chief branch of its commerce ; but it is con- 

 fiderable. Many almond-trees are feen here. This 

 Pieve Tuani is a fmall vale, two miles long and four 



broad 3 



