684 



KINGDOM OF NAPLES. 



a dog into this gas he is suffocated and appears lifeless ; but revives on being withdrawn. Be- 

 yond is the Soltatara, a volcanic cone, from which issue sulphureous vapors. Then succeeds 

 Pozzuoli, a town of 8,000 inhabitants, remarkable for its ruins and its charming situation. In 

 its vicinity are the river Acheron, the lake Avernus, and tlie Jllonte JVitoyo, which suddenly 

 rose out of the ground in 15SS, to the height of 500 feet. Here is also Baiw, once a favorite 

 resort of the Romans, now covered with magnificent ruins. On the east the road leads to 

 Portici, Vesuvius, Herculaneum, and Pompeii. At the foot of Vesuvius is Torre del Greco, 

 a considerable town, with 13,000 inhabitants. 



Near the coast, to the south, are Cava, with extensive manufactures, a celebrated monastery, 

 and 20,000 inhabitants ; Salerno, a commercial city, renowned for its ancient medical school, 

 with 11,000 inhabitants ; and Amalji, now a little village with 3,000 inhabitants, but interest- 

 ing from its historical importance. Further south stand the magnificent ruins of Pmstum, an 

 ancient Greek city, celebrated by the poets for the fragrance of its twice-blowing roses, and its 

 mild and balmy air. The remains of 3 temples of a colossal size and beautiful architecture 

 were discovered here m 1755, and in 1S30 a whole street, lined with a long colonnade, was 

 found. 



Bari, on the Adriatic, has a good harbor and considerable commerce, with 19,000 inhabit- 

 ants. Lecce, 14,000 inhabitants, Tarentum, 14,000, and Reggio, with 17,000, are important 

 manufacturing and commercial towns. Foggia, in the Capitanata, with 21,000 inhabitants, 

 Trani, on the Adriatic, remarkable for its cathedral, witlr 14,000 inhabitants, and Barlelta, 

 noted for its salt works, and its flourishing commerce, with 18,000 inhabitants, are also impor- 

 tant towns. 



Palermo, the capital of Sicily, stands on a small bay in the northwestern part of the island. 

 The streets are regular and wide ; the houses elegant, and several of the public squares very 

 beautiful. The city is built in a semicircular plain or valley surrounded by mountains. This 

 little nook of land is called Conca d' Oro, or the " Golden Shell," and abounds with fragrant 

 groves of orange trees and acacias. Palermo has a university and considerable commerce. 

 Population, 168,000. 



Catania stands at the foot of Mount iEtna. Its streets are strait, spacious, and paved with 

 lava. It is the busiest town in Sicily, and has a university, public library, museums, acade- 

 mies, &c. It was founded 700 years before the Christian era, and has suffered severely from 

 eruptions of the mountain and from earthquakes. Population, 47,100. 



JVlessina, upon the strait of that name, at the northeastern extremity of Sicily, is regularly 

 built, and has one of the best harbors in the Mediterranean. Its fine quay extends more than 

 a mile along the port. It is the first commercial town in the kingdom, and its trade extends to 

 the North of Europe and America. It was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1783, 

 but has been rebuilt. Population, 40,000. 



Syracuse, on the eastern coast of the island, is a strongly fortified town, with a good harbor. 

 It has many Grecian antiquities. Population, 15,000. Girgenii, the ancient Agrigentum, on 

 the south coast, has an indifferent harbor, but considerable trade. Population, 14,882. Tra- 

 pani, at the western extremity, has some commerce and coral fisheries. Population, 24,330. 

 Jllarsala, on the western coast, south of Trapani, is noted for its wines. Population, 21,000. 

 Callagirone, with 20,000 inhabitants, near the southern coast, is important for its manufactures 

 and commerce. 



11. Agriculture. The land belongs mosdy to the clergy and nobles; the cultivators are 

 j)Oor, and the country is imperfectly cultivated. On the continent wine, oil, silk, wheat, and 

 maize, with the various fruits of warm regions, are produced ; in Sicily they raise the same 

 jrticles, with flax and hemp. 



12. Commerce and Manufactures. The maritime commerce is confined chiefly to the ex- 

 portation of natural productions, and is mostly carried on by foreigners. Inland trade is ob- 

 structed by the want of good roads, navigable rivers and canals. Manufactures are more 

 flourishing in Naples than in Sicily. The silk, woolen, and cotton manufactures are consider- 

 able ; linen, metallic wares, and articles of marble, and precious stones, are also produced. 



13. Government. The government is an absolute monarchy, hereditary in the male and fe- 

 male line. The revenue is about 15,000,000 dollars, the debt 100,000,000. The army con- 

 sists of 51,000 men ; the navy of 2 ships of the line, 5 frigates, and 10 smaller vessels. 



14. Religion. The religion of the natives is the Roman Catholic, but there are some Jews, 

 and members of the Greek Church. The clergy are in possession of nearly two thirds of the 



