Z A R 
805 
Z A N 
find the deficiency is supplied by imports from the Morea, 
whither the peasantry of Zante resort in the harvest, to the 
number of 4000 or 5000, and receive payment for their 
labour, in corn, of which they bring back with them, on an 
average, not less than 50,000 bushels. Cotton and silk are 
cultivated to a small extent; and pasturage is very scanty, 
in consequence of the droughts of summer. Goats are the 
only live stock. The soil of this island being so fertile, the 
population is much more dense than in other parts of Greece. 
The total of the island is about 40,000, being 250 persons 
to the square mile. Of these, above 16,000 reside in the 
town of Zante; the rest in villages, hamlets, and scattered 
habitations, many of which are pleasantly situated along the 
coast. The language of the town, for the purpose of in¬ 
tercourse with foreigners, is Italian ; but the current language 
is Greek. The dress of the Zantiotes presents a similar 
mixture of Italian and Greek fashions. Here are some ma¬ 
nufactures of woollens; also of liquors. The island fell 
into the hands of the British, in October, 1809. It has com¬ 
munication by packets with Malta, Corfu, and the mainland 
of Greece. It sends seven deputies to the Ionian parliament, 
and is similar in mode of government, to the other islands of 
that republic. 
ZANTE, the Zaeynthus of the ancients, the capital of the 
foregoing island, is situated on the eastern coast, about 12 
miles nearly west of Cape Tomese, in the Morea. It is the 
largest town of the republic, containing between 16,000 and 
18,000 inhabitants, It is pleasantly situated at the bottom 
of a small bay, and on a hill of so gentle a declivity, as to 
descend in an almost imperceptible slope, to the surface of 
the sea. In its appearance, Zante resembles an Italian town. 
The principal street, which traverses it in its whole length, 
is broad and handsome: it is bordered with well built 
houses and churches, some supported by colonnades; others 
provided with piazzas, which, in a sultry climate like this, 
are of incalculable benefit. It has likewise the advantage, 
so rare on the continent, of a foot pavement. The market¬ 
place, situated near the sea, is spacious and well laid out: 
it serves the double purpose of an exchange for the merchants 
during the day, and of a public promenade during the 
summer evenings. The houses of Zante are built, partly of 
brick, partly of wood; and, on account of the frequency of 
earthquakes, seldom exceed one or two stories in height: the 
last visitation of this kind, in 1820, overthrew several hundred 
houses, without, however, causing a loss of lives. Zante 
partakes of the character of a commercial town, comfort 
being more studied than elegance, and there being no public 
amusements, except billiards, and occasionally a theatrical 
representation by Italian players. Of the churches, several 
are well built, but none particularly striking. The harbour 
is capacious, but was not accounted safe for large vessels 
during the winter gales, until the erection of a mole or jetty. 
Quarantine is performed at a distance of two miles from 
the shore, and under the guns of the fort, which stands to 
the north-west, on the top of an eminence. The environs 
of Zante are extremely pleasant and picturesque. 
ZANTOMISL, a town of Prussian Poland; 20 miles east- 
south-east of Posen. Population 900. 
ZA'NY, s. Insanus. —A fool, a ninny. [Mr. Horne Tooke 
has observed, that zany and nizy are both from the same 
Italian word, viz., sanese; zany, from the former, and nizy 
from the latter part of the word; and that Sanese, or a native 
of Sienna in Italy, was equivalent to a fool, may be learned 
from many Italian books, as well as by conversation with the 
Florentines. He accordingly refers to some Italian comedies 
in proof. Poggius mentions a native of Sienna thus: “ Pas- 
quinus vir dicax ac jocosus.” Facet, p. 468.] One 
employed to raise laughter by his gestures, actions, and speech¬ 
es; a merry Andrew; a buffoon. 
Then write that I may follow, and so be 
Thy echo, thy debtor, thy foil, thy zany: 
I shall be thought, if mine like thine I shape, 
All the world’s lion, though I be thy ape. Donne. 
To ZA’NY, v. a. To mimic. 
Vol. XXIV. No. 1674. 
All excellence 
In other madams does but zany hers. Beautn. anil FI. 
Laughs them to scorn, as men doth busy apes 
When they will zany men. Marston. 
ZANZIBAR, an island in the Indian ocean, near the coast 
of Africa, about 45 miles in length, and 15 in breadth. It 
has an excellent harbour on the western shore, abreast of the 
town. The island is difficult of approach, on account of a 
very strong current. The eastern coast is bold and woody; 
but the hills are not sufficiently high to interrupt the course 
of the sea breeze, which blowing over the whole island, 
renders it tolerably healthy. The inhabitants are Mahometan 
Arabs, governed by a sheik, appointed by the imam of 
Mascat. He has about 100 native troops under his command ; 
but the island is said to be in a very defenceless state. It 
carries on a considerable trade with the Isle of France, 
Madagascar, and the Arabian Gulf. It exports slaves, gums, 
ivory, antimony, and blue vitriol; and imports arms, gun¬ 
powder, cutlery, coarse Indian cloths, and Spanish dollars. 
Small vessels, called dows or grabs, of 200 tons burden, are 
built on the island. It is plentifully supplied with water; 
and provisions are cheap and abundant. 
Z ANZOUR, a village of Tripoli; 15 miles west-north-west 
of Tripoli. 
ZAOIE, a village of Upper Egypt, on the Nile; 13 miles 
north of Benisuef. 
ZAPALLGS, a river of New Granada, in the province of 
Pastos, which runs east, and enters the Caqueta. 
ZAPANGAS, a settlement of Costa Rica, on the coast of 
the Pacific ocean, near Cape Blanco. 
ZAPANQUI, a settlement of Peru, in the province of 
Sicasica. 
ZAPARAS, a settlement of the Caraccas, in the province 
of Maracaibo, on the east coast of Lake Maracaibo. 
ZAPATERO, a small island, situated in the Lake Nica¬ 
ragua, near the west coast. 
ZAPATILLA LAGOON, a bay on the east coast of 
Yucatan. Lat. 18. 52. N. long. 89. 32. W. 
ZAPATOSA, a lake of New Granada, in the province of 
Sania Martha, formed from the various rivers which rise in 
the Snowy mountains. 
ZAPOpAN, a town of Mexico, in the province of Gua- 
dalaxara ; 7 miles north-west of Guadalaxara. 
ZAPOTE, or Zapote Yacu, a river of South America, 
which enters the Casavatay, in Lat. 5. 11. S. 
ZAPOTE, a settlement of Peru, in the province of Caxa- 
marquilla. 
ZAPOTECAS, San Ildefonso de los, a city of Mexico, 
in the province of Oaxaca. 
ZAPOTITLAN, a settlement of Mexico ; 62 miles south¬ 
east of Puebla de los Angelos. 
ZAPOTLAN, a settlement of Mexico, in the province of 
Valladolid ; 105 miles west of Valladolid. Lat. 20. 10. N. 
long. 104. 36. W.—It is also the name of several other in¬ 
considerable settlements in Mexico. 
ZAPPOLINO, a small town of Italy, in the territory of 
Bologna. 
ZAPUESA, a settlement of New Granada, on the shore of 
the Lake Zapatosa. 
ZAQUALCO, a settlement of Mexico, in the province 
of Valladolid. It contains 200 families of Spaniards, mes¬ 
tizoes, and mulattoes, and 300 of Indians. 
ZAQUALPA, a town of Mexico, in the province of Pue¬ 
bla de los Angelos. It contains 240 Indian families, 100 
of Spaniards, mestizoes, and mulattoes; 90 miles south-east 
of Mexico.—There is another settlement of the same name, 
containing 109 Indian families. 
ZARA, the capital of Austrian Dalmatia, situated on the 
shore of the Adriatic ; 90 miles south-south-east of Fiume. 
It stands on a point of land which runs out into the sea, 
and forms an excellent harbour, capable of containing a 
whole fleet. It is strongly fortified. Outside of the walls' 
are the ruins of an ancient aqueduct, of the time of Trajan, 
with a number of inscriptions. Zara has several good edi- 
8 R flees. 
