308 Defcription of the Ifand of Ifchia, and its Inkabitants. [Nov. 1; 
an extinguifhed volcano. A few pretty villa- 
pesare difperfed along its coafts. Detached 
habitations are f{cattered over the furface 
of the whole ifland, and are even to be 
found at an elevation where the culture of 
- the foil muft ceafe. The white colour of 
the houfes forms an agreeable contraft with 
the verdure of the vines and gardens in 
-which they are embofomed. At the fum- 
mit of the mountain, a hermitage, com- 
pofed of a chapel and three cells, has been 
excavated out of the volcanic rock. The 
cells are inhabited by as many hermits. 
One of them goes his round through the 
-ifland twice a week, and brings back 
bread, oil, eggs, and every thing necef- 
- fary for the fervice of the altar. The in- 
habitants give him alms with joy, and re- 
commend themfelves to his prayers. They 
make a pilgrimage annually to this chapel. 
We once went thither : we were receiv- 
- ed with great cordiality by the hermits, and 
. treated in the beft manner their poverty 
would permit. One of them, however, a 
_decrepid old man, took no notice of us. 
He was to be feen, morning and evening, 
on his knees before the chapel or before 
the altar. His behaviour excited our cu- 
riofity, and we took a favourable oppor- 
tunity of entering -into converfation with 
him. We learned that he was a German, 
that he had left his country in the prime 
of life to make a pilgrimage to Our Lady 
of Loretto, and had never returned to his 
* Theifland of Ifchia, fituated at the eaft- 
ern entrance of the Gulph of Naples, isabout 
ten Italian miles in circumference, includ- 
ing all the finuofities formed by its fhore. It 
has a bifhop, fuffragan of the fee of Naples, 
three parifhes,and a convent of nuns. 
This Defcription appeared in German, in 
the year 1796, and is from the pen of Mr. 
G.H.L. Nicolovius, fecretary to the Chamber 
of Finances at Eutin. This piece is intereft- 
ing, not only for its matter, but likewife its 
manner. Inftead of thofe protraéted periods 
which fatigue the ear and the attention, we 
are furprifed at the brevity and natural con- 
ftruction of the phrafes, which remind the 
reader of the pleafing fimplicity of the Greek 
claffics, and particularly of Xenophon, Ano- 
ther reflection likewife occurs. The author 
“is a proteftant ; he had to deferibe the man- 
ners of a {mall catholic tribe, whofe religion 
is not of the moft enlightened kind, and he 
{peaks of the faith of thofe iflanders with ree 
. fpe&, of their errors (for fuch he muft con- 
fider them) with benevolence, and has even 
~ infufed intereft into kis account of their fue 
perftitions. 
native land. We atked him his age. * EF 
was born,’” faid he, in a feeble and tremu- 
lous voice ; “© I was bornin 17... but I 
know not what year we are now in.”” 
This ifland enjoys a propitious climate* 
and the {ky is feldom obfcured by clouds. 
The winters are mild, the reptiles harm- 
lefs, and the {prings cure various difeafes. 
The government is likewife mild. The 
ifland is exempt from taxes. The king 
pays it a vifit every year, and gives por- 
tions to the indigent young females. An 
hofpiral is eftablifhed here at the expence 
of a charitable fociety at Naples. Some 
hundreds of fick receive attendance and re- 
lief during the bathing-feafon. Several 
barks are folely employed in removing the 
convalefcents to Naples, and bringing back 
other patients to the hofpital. ‘I he Jame, 
who are cured of their infirmities, leave 
behind them their crutches, which they 
confecrate to the Madona, or to fome par- 
ticular patron. 
The trees, fhrubs, and plants, which 
prefer volcanic foils, thrive wonderfully in 
this ifland. Here and there are feen groves 
of oak and chefnut-trees. They are fut- 
fered to grow only ten years. The orange, 
pomegranate, fig, Neapolitan medlar and 
arbutus, are the moft common trees in the 
gardens. Of wild thrubs, the myrtle and 
the maftic are the moft numerous. 
The inhabitants have fomething peculi- 
ar in their language, their figure and their 
drefs. This ifland is inacceffible to fafhion: 
many inventions of modern luxury are pro- 
hibited by the very nature of the place. 
The foil feeds nothing but affes and goats. | 
It is rugged throughout the whole ifland, 
fo as to prevent the ule of carriages. The 
king himfelf, upon quitting his veffel, is 
obliged to be contented with the fame 
humble conveyance which the meaneft 
iflander ufes in common with him. 
It was in the fpring that we firtt vifited 
this ifland. We fpent two days in the 
village of Ifchia. We fought in vain for 
an inn, and were directed to people whos 
we were informed, would be happy to re- 
ceiveus. A kind old matron, a middle- 
aged woman, and a little girl were our 
hofts. They had only two {mall apart- 
ments, which we divided withthem. They 
never Jeft us a moment. They inquired 
with affeétion concerning the health of 
our abfent friends ; and the firft morning, 
when I awoke, I faw by my bed-fide the 
good old woman employed in covering my 
fhoulders with the clothes which I had de- 
ranged while afleep. — 
| After 
