SICILY. 
183 
Veil di Noto : 
Modica . 
Agosta. 
Ragusa. 
. 20,000 
Vittoria. 
..11,000 
Noto....__ 
. 16,000 
Scicli.... 
Syracuse. 
Castro Giovanni.. 
Val di Demona : 
Messina. 
.... 90,000 
Randuzzo. 
Catania. 
Nicosia... 
_ 80,000 
.... 13,000 
Cefalu. 
Face of the Country. —Sicily is separated from the Italian 
continent by a strait called the Faro di Messina, from 12 to 
15 miles over in the broadest part, and in the narrowest not 
exceeding two. It has been often asserted that the island 
was originally joined to the continent, and separated from it 
by a great convulsion, the principal chain of mountains, 
extending from east to west, being apparently a continuation 
of the Appennines. There are, however, other ranges 
branching off from north to south, and a few insulated 
mountains, of which by far the greatest is Etna. This 
mixture of mountain and valley causes a corresponding 
variety of products and scenery, the low grounds being 
appropriated to maize, wheat, and other corn, the higher to 
pasture and plantations. The most extensive plains are 
those of Melazzo and Catania in the north-east, of Syracuse 
in the south-west, of Terra Nova in the south. Along the 
northern coast the surface is level for nearly 100 miles to the 
east of Trapani: it is level also near the gulf of Gastello 
Mare, on the opposite side of Sicily. Considerable as is 
the population, there are extensive tracks, particularly in the 
west, devoid both of cultivation and inhabitants. There are 
no carriage roads except in the vicinity of Palermo, and 
the only mode of travelling is on the backs of mules or 
horses. 
Sicily is well watered; but of all its streams, three only 
deserve the name of rivers, viz., the Fiume Grande, the Sal so, 
and the Giaretta, the Simcsthus of antiquity. There are 
very few bridges, either over these or over the rivulets, 
which, in the rainy seasons, are soon swelled to the size of 
torrents. Of lakes, Sicily has only two worth notice, the 
Biviere, about eight miles south of Catania, which in winter 
has a circumference of 20 miles, while in summer it is 
reduced to one-half, leaving a swampy track, of the most 
pernicious operation on the health of the surrounding 
district. The other lake, Pergusa, near Castro Giovanni, 
in the centre of the island, is only five miles in circum¬ 
ference. 
Climate and Soil. —The climate of Sicily is very pleasant, 
the winter corresponding to our spring, and the heat of 
summer being tempered by the fresh breezes from the sea. 
Snow is confined to the lofty mountains; the low grounds 
exhibit the banana, the aloe, the sugar cane, and other 
southern productions. Of the seasons, the spring is the 
most agreeable. The sky of Sicily is comparatively 
eloudless, its vegetation luxuriant, its scenery finely diversi¬ 
fied. The drawbacks on these advantages are the unhealthi¬ 
ness of particular districts, the occasional occurrence of 
earthquakes, particularly in the neighbourhood of Messina, 
and the debilitating effect of the sirocco, or south wind, 
during a few days of July and August. Sicily has always 
been noted for its fertility, an advantage long ascribed to the 
volcanic matter contained on its surface; but this matter 
appears, by late surveys, to be confined to the vicinity of 
Etna, the soil in the rest of the island being a calcareous 
loamy mould. It descends in general to a considerable 
depth, and liberally rewards the active hand of industry. 
The want of rain in the beginning of summer is supplied by 
copious dews towards June; the snow accumulated on the 
mountains begins to melt, and affords, in a number of 
rivulets, the means of irrigating the land under tillage. 
Still the state of cultivation in Sicily is very backward, 
owing to the unfortunate absorption of landed property by 
the barons and clergy, and to the general poverty of the 
peasantry. Tracks of many miles in extent, which, with a 
little labour, might be made highly productive, are left 
uncultivated; and in a land of great natural plenty, one- 
third of the inhabitants may be said to be in a state of 
beggary. The products of the island are maize, wheat, and 
other corn; flax, hemp, vines, olives, saffron, and cotton. 
For silk the climate is highly favourable; also for the rich 
fruit of a southern latitude. Potatoes were introduced in 
the 18th century, and are cultivated in many parts, though 
not in great quantities. The extent of high lying ground, 
and the frequency of rain, make the pastures of Sicily very 
different from the parched continental tracks in the same 
latitude; hence a considerable supply of milk, cheese, and 
butter. A farther source of wealth, the extension of planta¬ 
tions, has been entirely neglected; and the oak, elm, ash, 
and pine, which cover many parts of the mountains, are 
turned to little account, being deemed in law the exclusive 
property of the crown. It was only in 1819 that the export 
of corn from this island was declared free. 
In minerals Sicily is equally rich. Iron and copper are 
found in various parts, particularly in the north-east quarter, 
the region of Etna. Marble is very general, and stone for 
building is found in almost every part of the island. Agate, 
jasper, porphyry and alabaster, are likewise found. Salt 
mines have been discovered near Castro Giovanni, in 
the centre of the island; and near Messina is a large coal 
mine. 
Animals. —The labour of the fields, and even the drag¬ 
ging of carts and waggons on the roads, is in Sicily generally 
performed by oxen. For travelling, recourse is had to 
mules, who here, as in other parts of the south of Europe, 
discover great steadiness in traversing a wretched road, and 
no less patience in supporting fatigue. In general the breed 
of cattle and horses has been much neglected, and is at pre¬ 
sent advancing very slowly towards improvement. Game 
is found in abundance, and most of the wild animals of the 
continent of Europe exist in this island. 
Manufactures and Trade. —The only manufacturing 
establishments of extent are at the three large towns of Pa¬ 
lermo, Messina and Catania: they consist of silk, cotton 
and linen; in part also of woollens, though the wool of the 
island is of indifferent quality. If to these we add a few 
articles, such as hats, cutlery, harness, carriages and house¬ 
hold furniture, made at Palermo and the principal towns, 
we have the amount of the Sicilian manufactures. A num¬ 
ber of articles for the peasantry, are in this, as in other 
backward countries, made at their own houses, without the 
benefit of machinery or division of labour. Hence com¬ 
paratively few exchanges, a slow intercourse between town 
and country, and in general those symptoms of stagnation 
which strike an Englishman so forcibly on visiting a foreign 
country. 
In respect to commerce, Sicily, from the variety of its 
products, the excellence of several of its harbours, and the 
general safety of its coast for navigation, would, under an 
enlightened government, acquire great importance. As yet, 
however, the exports and imports are comparatively small, 
neither exceeding 1,500,000/. for the whole island. Here 
are no banks, no insurance companies, and very little confi¬ 
dence in government. The interior trade is cramped by the 
want of roads, the navigation by the quarantine laws, which 
are said to be enforced very unequally, and to be unfairly 
dispensed with in favour of those who are in connection 
with the public officers. The occupancy of the island by 
the British troops, from 1806 to 1816, was a source of con¬ 
siderable advantage; and in the latter year, a treaty was 
concluded between the courts of Naples and London, afford¬ 
ing considerable privileges to the British. The chief exports 
of Sicily are silk, corn, salt, olive oil, sumac, wine, fruits 
of various kinds; also goat, kid and other skins. The im¬ 
ports consist of colonial produce, hardware, jewelery, lead 
and manufactured articles in great variety, but small quan~ 
tity. Of the fisheries carried on along the coast, the prin- 
