6,8 ISLE OF SAMOS. 
CHAP, called Havovyia /^oy^a, Our Lady of the Thunder. 
There are four nunneries upon the island, and 
above three hundred private chapels; yet 
the population does not exceed 12,000 men; 
which is explained by Tournefort, who says, 
that the island is entirely in the hands of church- 
men, possessing seven monasteries. The swarm 
of Caloyers and Greek Papas have made a desert 
of this fine island ; where all the qualification 
necessary to become a priest, and live by the 
industry of others, is the talent of being able 
to repeat mass from memory. The Bishop of 
Samos, who is also Bishop of Nicaria, enjoys 
an annual income of two thousand crowns ; and 
derives, besides, a considerable revenue from 
the important services he renders to the islanders, 
in blessing for them their water and their cattle 
in the beginning of May. All the produce of 
the dairies on that day belongs to him : he has 
also two beasts out of every herd 1 . In such a 
state ol affairs, we cannot wonder at the change 
that has taken place between the antient and 
the modern population of Samos : its fertility in 
former ages made it the subject of proverbial 
Pharnulusin Jovis cognominibus, speak of Jupiter Karair-^' i(> who darts 
the thunder. See also Tournef. Voy. du Lev. lorn. II. j>. 105. Lyon, 
1717 ; whence this note is taken, 
(l) SeeTournef. Voy. du Lev. torn. II. p. 107- Zyon, 1717. 
