r8or.] View of Religion, Manners, &c. in the Ifand of Corfu. 
ing with my lips a token of veneration on 
the hand of the prieft, I caft my tribute 
into the bafin. It was a liberal tribute ; 
wherefore it gained for me a {mile of ap- 
probation from the young prieft, and from 
another ecclefiaftic who was attentively oc- 
cupied by his fide in watching the receipts. 
In confideration of my prefent, I was in- 
dulgently pardoned for my neglect of the 
other formalities.”°—This’ ceremony is 
called Mancia. Sometimes a young prieft, 
euitertaining doubts of a large contribu- 
‘tion, fells the produce before hand for 
whatever fum he can obtain; in which 
cafe the purchafer takes the ftation of the 
affiftant ecclefiattic, and perfonaliy fuperin- 
tends the bafin. 
GREEK CHURCH. 
The Corfiots, converted to Chriftianity 
by Saint Jafon and Saint Sofipater, em- 
braced that fchifm, which, fprung from 
ambition and the luf of pre-eminence, fi- 
nally terminated in the feparation of the 
two churches, which till then had been 
united. The ifle of Corfu was fubjec& to 
the patriarchal jurifdiétion of Conftanti- 
nople, where the Greek ritual at that time 
flourithed alone and unrivaled. 
The Greek church at Corfu has for its 
chief a protopapa, or head-prieft, ele&ted in 
an affembly of the clergy and the nobili- 
ty. That office is conferred upon none 
except an ecclefiaftic of a noble family 
admitted to the council. It is not per- 
fonal merit that determines the fuffrages * 
they were principally fwayed by the in- 
fluence and liberality of the candidate. 
Some time previous to the eleétion, ke 
goes, accompanied by his relatives and 
friends, to canvas for the votes of the 
nobles and of the papas or priefis, who enjoy 
the deep and retpeétful bows which they 
publicly receive on thofeoccafions, but who 
are not ufually fatisfied without more fub- 
ftantial tokens of good-will. 
The ceremony of the ele&tion is con- 
duéted in the hall where the nobles hold 
their aflemblies. The interior part of 
that hall is furrounded with benches: in 
the fartheft part, a fmall wooden baluf- 
trade inclofes a table covered with a cloth, 
and the feats deftined for the governor and 
the other chief officers of the government. 
The Venetian nobles who compofe his 
court, together with the aides-de camp, 
are placed by their fide, ‘Thefe are the 
only perfons allowed to appear armed at 
thole aflemblies ; a precaution which ori- 
ginated in the fufpicious policy of the go- 
verpment. 
- The nobles and the papas being ranged 
onthe benches, a faw/e or beadle, clad in 
487 
a drefs of mean blue cloth, and wearing on 
his head a cap of the fame, but decorated 
in front with a filver plate impreffed with 
the arms of the city, loudly and repeatedly 
calls forth the name of one of the candi- 
dates. The candidates, meanwhile, hum- 
bly ftanding at the door with their heads 
uncovered, and furrounded by their rela- 
tives, who on this occafion are not admit- 
ted into the alfembly, folicit, with lowly and 
repeated bows, the votes of their fellow- 
citizens. 
Two other fantes now advance and 
take from the table a bafket filled with 
little balls, which they diftribute to the 
nobles and papas. The governor alone 
receives two. Next comes forward a fourth 
fante, who paffes along the ranks with a 
bailoting-box which has one hole without 
to admit the hand, and two within com- 
municating to feparate drawers,. fo that 
each voter may drop in his ball for or 
againft the candidate without being difco- 
vered ; a very prudent and neceffary pre- 
caution im a country where vengeance is 
encouraged by impunity. While the bal- 
loting-box is going round, the fazte con- 
tinues to repeat the name of the candidate, 
who inceffantly renews the mute folicita- 
tion of his humbie bows. When the 
votes are colleéted, the box is prefented to 
the governor, who perfonally counts them, 
and finally names the fuccefstul candidate, 
The latter, amid loud applaufes and con- 
gratulations, advances to thank the go- 
vernor, who poffeffes:a cafting vote, and 
who an{wers him by a fight compliment 
pronounced in a tone of proteétion. The 
populace, afiembl«d in crowds at the door 
of the council-hall, are immediately ine 
formed of the eleftion by the fantes, who, 
toffing up their caps, and joining the note 
of very fhrill whiltles to the joyous fhouts 
of the multitude, make ftrenuous efforts 
to fignalife their zeal by the vehemence of 
their cries. : 
The new protopapa is immediately velt- 
ed with his ‘ceremonial robes in the coun- 
cil-chamber. They confift of a long cown 
of crimfon fatin, a foutane*, girdle, and 
calotte+, of the fame ftuff, and an ample 
velvet hat of the fame colour, from which 
hang two enormous filk taffels. The paf- 
toral ftaff is compofed of feveral pieces of 
ivory joined together, and terminating “in 
a large ball. 
Scarcely is the new protopapa arrayed, 
* A garment clofe from the hips upward, 
wide and flowing from. the hips to the 
ground, :: 
+ A fkull-cap, 
gi 2 when 
