island. The total of all diseases admitted into the hospitals and close to the sea, is Argostoli, the capital of the during seven years ending in 1821, was, 15,191, among Zante, Zacynthos, or Zacynthus, supposed to be so which were common fevers, 3,299; typhus, 2; remittants, 1,400; quotidians, 342; tertians, 285; quartans, 17; unclassed intermittants, 376; total, 5,721. The mortality by fevers of all descriptions was 170, or about 1 in 33 2-thirds. Dysentery is the next most important disease treated in the military hospitals of Corfu. Diarrhea is also of frequent occurrence; there were treated 605 cases, of which only two died, or 1 in 302. Phthisis and pulmonic inflammations, as they occurred at Malta, Gibraltar, and Minorca, bear a proportion of 1 to 24 of all the other serious complaints. The other diseases do not require notice; the plague has several times appeared, and of twenty-eight cases treated in 1816, only three recovered. called from its being the burial-place of one of the Baotian followers of Hercules, (Pliny states it was formerly called Hyria,) is situated in the parallel of 37.47. north, and the meridian of 20.54. east of Greenwich, ten miles distant from Cephalonia, and lying opposite the Gulf of Lepanto or Patras, towards the west angle of the Peloponnesian province of Elis, the nearest point of which, Cape Klarenza, is distant about 15 miles. The area is 156 square miles; in its greatest length, which lies north-west and south-east, it measures 24 miles; in breadth 12; and its circumference, the same which was estimated by Strabo, viz. 70 miles. From its exquisite beauty, this island is by common consent called "Zante, il fiore di Levante." In The following return showing the comparative shape it is trapezoidacal, or rather irregularly oval, health of the troops serving in the Ionian islands and indented with a deep bay at its south-east extremity. other places, was furnished by J. W. Hay, Esq., (then The aspect is decidedly mountainous, and occupying under secretary of state for the colonies) to the Com-three-fifths of the island, the elevation varying from mittee of the H. C., on Military Establishments, 9th 500 to 1,300 feet above the sea. July, 1834. It does not, however, afford a fair test of comparative healthiness of station, as it is well known a regiment may be very healthy in one year and not in another: residents afford a fairer test of climate than troops, continually shifting, and addicted to intemperance. Cephalonia, although second in rank to Corfu, is the largest of the islands composing the septinsular union. It is situate in the parallel of 38.27. north lat., and the meridian of 20.32. east of Greenwich, having Santa Maura about six miles to the northward, Zante eight miles to the southward, and the west coast of the Morea 24 miles distant. The area is 348 square miles, the extreme length 32, extreme breadth 18, and the circumference following the coast 150 miles. Cephalonia is extremely rugged and mountainous. The general direction of the mountains is from south to north. At the southern extremity of the range, or opposite the coast of Zante, is the highest mountain in the Ionian islands, the mountain Enos of antiquity, the modern Black Mountain, or Montagna Negra, 3,625 feet above the level of the sea. The harbour of Cephalonia runs inland for eight miles, rather difficult of ingress and egress, owing to its serpentine form, but offering a spacious and convenient shipping port. The entrance to the haven is extremely picturesque: on either side groves and plantations, relieved in the back-ground by majestic mountains, meet the eye in varied succession. To the left, on the western side of the harbour, three miles from its entrance, stands the town of Lixuri (olim Palis). In front of this town the harbour opens into a branch running to the south-east for three miles; and on the peninsula formed by this branch, At about half a The city of Zante is very imposing in its external It is an open unappearance, viewed from the sea. walled town, and stretches along a gently curved bay for about a mile and three quarters. mile from the northern extremity is the point of Crio Nero, jutting into the sea, from whence the town and shipping are supplied with water. In breadth the town nowhere exceeds 300 yards, except where the houses stretch up the hill, upon which the castle is erected. In 1819, the city contained 3,730 private houses, 65 churches, five private chapels, two convents of monks, and two of nuns, and 27 public edifices of various descriptions, including two Jewish synagogues. The soil is of three different kinds :-a strong clay in the plain, calcareous on the rising ground, and sandy near the shore. Zante possesses petroleum and tar-springs, somewhat similar to those which I have described under Trinidad. As the substance termed asphalte is coming into use, it may be stated here that according to a recent traveller, the valley containing the bitumen at Zante is the segment of a circle, surrounded on three sides by abrupt and rugged ridges of hills; and on the fourth, by rocks rising above the water, as if the sea had, at some period, burst in and destroyed the continuity. In the marsh within the circle are several wells or pits; one examined was about nine feet in diameter, and surrounded by a dwarf wall. The water was two feet below the edge, and one foot deep; the surface covered with a scum, which reflects various iridescent colours, the blue and green are very vivid. A dark, black substance continually forcing its way from the bottom, and boiling up in large globules, which, as they ascended, enlarged, till near the surface, and then burst, liberating a quantity of gas, which the peasantry say is highly inflammable. Sometimes the globules are transparent, and assume a singular brilliancy, rising to the top and bursting, while a coating of dark bituminous matter in which they were invested is thrown off. This dark substance is the petroleum, or rock-pitch, which, being specifically heavier than the water, remains below, covering the sides and part of the bottom. The brilliant globules disengaged from it are pure naphtha, or rock-oil, which forms a light oleaginous stratum above, reflecting various beautiful colours. The intervening water is sweet and fit for use, but strongly impregnated with a taste like tar-water, and it is prescribed in various dispeptic complaints. The pitch is collected with large spoons into a pit adjoining the well, and thence thrown into barrels. The best time for gathering it is summer, when it is exuded in the greatest quantities; and they annually fill about 100 barrels, which is used for smearing the bottoms of ships and similar purposes. There are many instances of longevity among the Zantiotes, and several inhabitants are known to be above 90 years of age, in the full possession of all their faculties. Zante abounds in aromatic herbs, the odour of which is experienced some distance at sea; and the delicious flavour of the Zantiote honey is doubtless owing to the fragrance of the herbage. Currants, oil, wine, and flax are the principal vegetable products Santa Maura Island (olim Neritos, then Leucadia, from Aɛvkoc, white, owing to its white rocks) formed by the artificial construction of a channel dividing it from the mainland of Acarnania, with Cephalonia 10 miles to the southward, and Corfu 35 to the northwest, is situate in 38.40. north lat., and 20.46 east of Greenwich, having an area of 180 square miles; in extreme length 23, in extreme breadth 10, and about 60 miles in circumference. Santa Maura is a mass of mountains, of which St. Elias, the highest, rises to an elevation of 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. The figure of the island is somewhat triangular; the north-west coast, which forms the base line, runs straight and perpendicular, raising the land to a considerable height above the level of the sea; from this the surface inclines irregularly towards the eastern coast, giving the whole nearly an eastern aspect. A part, however, considerable in population and productiveness, although of small extent, owing to its narrowness, enjoys a fine western aspect. Amaxichi, the chief town, about a mile in circumference, is situate on a very beautiful plain two miles long, one broad, and thickly covered with olives, and contains upwards of 6,000 inhabitants, the remaining being scattered among 32 villages, some of them situate on the very tops of the mountains. Ithaca (called Thiaki by the natives, Val de Compare by the Venetians), in lat. 38.25. north, long. 20.40. east, is bounded on the south and east by Cephalonia, from which it is distant about eight miles; on the east and north-east by the channel of Zante, and a group of small islands, the ancient Echinades; on the north by a part of Santa Maura; and on the northwest, west and south-west by the channel which runs between Santa Maura and Cephalonia. It is distant from the main land of Acarnania about 15 miles at the nearest point, and somewhat more than 30 miles distant, in a south-east direction, lies the opening of the gulph of Lepanto. The shape is irregular, the extreme length from north to south being 18 miles, extreme breadth, five, but in some places not more than one mile and a half; its circumference about 30, and its area 44 square miles. The appearance of Ithaca is unprepossessing, the whole island being a mass of mountains running in an irregular ridge east and west; or it may be considered a single mountain divided into rugged and mis-shapen rocks. Vathi is little more than a single street, upwards of a mile long, containing from 3 to 4,000 inhabitants; the houses built of stone, and the town remarkable for its cleanliness and health. Paxo, another of the Ionian islands, in lat. 39.12. south, long. 20.12. east, with an area of 27 square miles, and 12 in circumference, is of an oval shape, and composed of a single mountain, which probably at one period, formed part of Corfu, from the southernmost point of which it is only seven miles distant. Port Gai affords good anchorage for a few vessels; but there is an inner harbour formed by an island almost in contact with the other, having a circular battery commanding the town, which is scattered in an irregular manner on the beach. Cerigo is the most southern island of the Septinsular Union, situate in lat. 36.6. north, long. 22.50. east, at the entrance of the Archipelago: to the north of Canee, and south of the Morea; five miles distant south from Servi, and 14 east-south-east of Cape Malio. The area is 116 square miles, the extreme length 20, the extreme breadth 12, and the circumference about 50. The island was anciently known (according to Pliny) by the name of Porphyris, from its possessing abundance of that beautiful marble. Ptolemy attributes the name of Cythera to Cytherus the son of Phoenix, who established himself in the island. According to some, Cerigo was first peopled by the Lacedomonians, who in the eighth year of the Peloponnesian war were expelled by the Athenians under the command of Nicias. At a subsequent period it passed under the dominion of the Spartan republic, and served as a retreat to Cleomenes, who on the approach of Antigonus, king of Macedon, took refuge in the island. Ptolemy, king of Egypt, was afterwards lord of Cerigo; the Romans next came in possession, then the Venetians, and it followed the fate of the other islands of the Union. The relics extant denote the former greatness of the place; "Pælo Castro" ruin, to the northward of the harbour, stands on the ancient town of Menelaus, whose faithless wife Helen caused the siege of Troy, and whose bath is still shewn. Six miles from the harbour of St. Nicholas, on the east, was situate the former city of Cythera; and a little further to the south are situate some ruins, supposed to belong to a temple dedicated to Venus Cytherea. The island is oval-shaped: at the north is Cape Sparti, having a chapel on its extremity to the south is Cape Kapello, close to which is situate the harbour, and immediately above the chief town called Kapsali, and containing about 5,000 inhabitants, whose tenements offer a marked contrast to the other islanders', being mostly of wood, and ill constructed. VI. We have no early censuses; according to the Colonial Office Returns, the following shews thePopulation of the Ionian Islands since 1824. It will be seen from the foregoing, that the present population of Corfu is upwards of 65,000, from which it would appear that the number of inhabitants within the present century is on the increase, as shewn by the following census, taken in November 1802: Within the Town. Men, Women and Children of the Greek persuasion, 4,700; do. do. Latin, 1,600; do. do. Jewish, 1,229; total within the town, 7,529; in the suburbs of St. Rocco, 508; do. Manduchio, do. do. 1,829; do. Potamo, do. do. 2,192; do. Castrades, 2,160; total in the town and suburbs, 14,218: population in the 24 midland villages, 7,706; do. 44 northern, do. do. 12,660; do. 34 southern, do. do. 5,169; do. Island of Fano and Merlice, do. do. 773; total population, 44,926. The classification of the inhabitants in the town was as follows, according to the same census : A curious table of the Roman Catholic inhabitants of the city of Corfu, for 51 years, viz. from 1770 to 1820, inclusive, was prepared by Dr. Benza, and the following is an abstract of a voluminous series of reports:-Years, 51; Born-males, 3,071; females, 2,750; total, 5,821. Dead-males, 5,109; females, 3,217; total, 8,326. Died more than 90 years oldmales, 35; females, 36. Died more than 100 years old-males, 5; females, 3. Born twins and more, 44. Marriages, 2,235. So that the marriages were to chil dren born nearly as 1 to 24, and twins stand to mariages as 1 to 50, and to births as 1 to 132. The deaths in this table bear no proportion to the marriages and births. They exceed the latter by 2,505. The lonians partake in some general features of the Greek physical configuration. The upper and front parts of the skull are well developed; the features are, in general, pleasing, and wear an air of intelligence. The complexion, in healthy persons, inclines towards olive; and in some of the females, who are not exposed to the sun, it is clear and white. The complexion of the peasantry is, of course, much Those who reside in the Lef affected by the sun. chimo district in particular, and in the neighbourhood of marshes, in general have a sickly leucophlegmatic cast. The eyes are almost universally brilliant and full, in both sexes, and generally dark-coloured; the teeth good; the hair generally brown or black, and bushy in the men; the beard copious; the figure of the middle standard-sometimes beyond it, and, if not indicative of strength, promising activity. The constitution sanguineo choleric; the gestures vivacious; the gait erect and elastic, and the enunciation voluble and emphatic. (See Colonial Library, vol. vii.) The females, are, in general, well formed, many of them handsome, but they soon fall into years. VII. The Greek Church is the predominant faith of the islanders, the followers of the Latin or Romish faith being few, probably not exceeding 3,000; of Jews there are about 5,000 in the island, all of whom are cordially hated by the Corfiots. The Romish Church was introduced into the island by the Venetians, and at first was only a bishoprick, but Pope Gregory, in 1600, elevated the see to an archbishoprick; the chief being generally a noble Venetian, chosen by the Senate, whose nomination was attended to by the Pope. The cathedral has a chapter composed of six canons, who elect a grand vicar. The clergy of the Latin Church were heretofore paid by government stipends, but excepting life interests, this system has been now discontinued. The Greek Church has for its head a protopapa (archpriest), elected by ballot in an assembly of the clergy and nobles, and confirmed by the patriarch at Constantinople. [For a description of the rites Greek Latin Church 868 porate Bodies) 908 "Jus Patronata" (Private) 1197 13 27 2874 1731 1010 English Civil Chapel, Corfu English Garrison Chapel, Corfu Total Cephalonia ...... 215 2242 8989926 In the Island of Corfu there is a dissenting preacher, of the Independent denomination. VIII. At Corfu there is a public university, also an ecclesiastical seminary for the education of young men intended for the priesthood of the Greek Church; and in each of the islands of the state is a school entitled "secondary," maintained at the public expense, in which secondary schools the scholars are instructed in the Greek and Latin classics, in the modern Greek, English, and Italian languages, in arithmetic, and the elementary mathematics. In the chief town of each island is a central school, likewise at the government expense, on the mutual instruction plan, for teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic; and in these schools the village schoolmasters are trained in the method of mutual instruc tion. Besides these schools entirely at the public expense, there are in each island district schools on the same plan as the central, and where similar instruction is given; one half of the salaries of teachers being paid by Government, and every other expense defrayed out of the subscriptions from the parents of the children. The district and village schools are under the immediate superintendence of the head master of the central school in each island, and there is an inspectorgeneral of all these schools. The whole of the establishment for education is under the general direction of the commission for public instruction, revised and improved by Lord Nugent. The number of public schools in the islands, in 1834, was 32, and of private 206; the expenditure of Government 6,1711. The male scholars in public schools, 1789; of females, 117. Ditto in private schools, males, 4,583; females, 826. Total in all, 7,315. For details see Hist. of the Colonies, vol. v. Libraries.-A collection of books, originally founded at Messina, in 1810, by British officers, and transferred to Corfu by them, has, since that period, gradually increased into a very respectable library of several thousand volumes, containing many valuable and well-selected books, to which a very ready access is at all times afforded. All military and naval officers, officers of the civil departments, British residents, and respectable inhabitants, may become members at a moderate entrance, and a small annual or monthly subscription. Besides this library, the medical officers of the garrison have a collection of English periodical publications and standard works. A small library was founded by the Canon Carale, from voluntary subscriptions among the nobility, &c. The books were lodged in the Franciscan Convent of St. Giustina: to this the Ionian Academy added theirs; but on the arrival of the French, the most valuable of the books were abstracted by them. Some few remain at the convent. A Bible Society was instituted in the summer of 1819, for the purpose of distributing the translations of the Scriptures into the Greek language, without note or comment, and there can be no doubt that much good will be derived from it by the islanders, for whose benefit it is intended. IX. Number of Prisoners in the Gaols of the Ionian Islands throughout the Year. [B. B.] No. of Prisoners. No. of Debtors. No. of Misdemeanours. No. of Felons. No. of tried No. of untried Prisoners. Prisoners. Years. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fin. Totl. Male Fm. Tot). Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Deaths. 51 187 3 190 253 3 256 406 9 50 147 153 284 4 288 480 10 53 201 207 180 1 181 431 10 441 490 163 6 169 158 162 26 253 20 25 225 5 33 172 12 24 132 10 12 166 6 45 289 5 273 315 5 320 489 17 506 103 10 113 230 213 5 218 377 10 93144 The goals seem to be well managed; wherever the localities will admit, the debtors are separated from the felons; the cost for each prisoner is about 5d. per diem; the average of hard labour is nine hours per diem, regulated according to the season. In Cephalonia those who work at the hand corn mills receive half of their earnings, the gaoler one quarter, and the remainder is paid into the police chest. The prisoners are supplied with coarse clothing. X. The civil government is now composed of a legislative assembly; of a senate; and of a judicial authority. The Legislative Assembly consists of forty members, including the president of the forty, eleven are integral members, and twenty-nine elected from the various islands in the following proportion: Corfu, seven; Cephalonia, seven; Zante, seven; Santa Maura, four; Ithaca, one; Cerigo, one; Paxo, one. Each of the three last in the rotation in which they stand (exclusive of that island whose regent becomes an integral member of the legislative assembly) elects a second. The members are elected (on a double list formed by a majority of the votes of the primary council) out of the body of the syndita of each island. [Chap. iii. Art. 8. Constitutional Charter, Appendix.] The elections, and all civil appointments, are valid for five years; and the session of the parliament of the states is held every two years. The votes are viva voce, and the sittings open; ten members, and the president, or vice president, constitute a legal meeting; and conferences with the senate, &c. are managed by the eleven integral members of the assembly, who form, with their president, the primary council. These eleven integral members in the case of parliament dying a natural death (that is, having run its full course of five years), consist of the president and five members of the old senate; the four regents of the great island during the late parliament; and of one of the regents of the smaller islands; but in case of a dissolution, instead of the regents, the lord high commissioner names five members of the late legislative assembly. The Senate, which forms the executive power, is composed of six, viz. five, and a president, entitled "His Highness;" while the senators are styled the "Most Illustrious " (Prestantissima); the senators are elected out of the body of the legislative assembly in the following proportion, viz. Corfu, one; Cephalonia, one; Zante, one; Santa Maura, one; Ithaca, Cerigo and Paxo, one. The power of placing a member of the assembly in nomination for a senator 125 10 rests with the president, on an application being made to him in writing, signed by four members of that body and himself, demanding such nomination; and the president shall place in nomination any person when eight members make a demand; the election takes place three days at furthest after the meeting of the assembly, and is decided by the majority of votes, the president casting in case of an equality. The sanction of the lord high commissioner is necessary to the validity of the election. The vacancies thus caused by the election of five members of the assembly to the senatorship are filled up by the transmissiom of double lists of names from the primary council to the syndita of each island. The senate remain in office five years; his highness, the presi dent, half that period, eligible however to be re-appointed by the lord high commissioner. The senate names its own ministerial officers, with several exceptions, and it has the power of nominating to all situations under the general government; the regents to the different local governments; the judges in all the islands; and generally to all situations, except merely municipal ones, with certain renovations. During the recess of parliament the senate has the power of making regulations which have pro tempore the force of laws; it has the power of originating laws, as well as disallowing any passed by the legislative assembly. The lord high commissioner is appointed by the colonial office, and is generally a military officer; His Excellency appoints in each island a resident, or representative, of the lord high commissioner, who is a field officer of the regiments on duty in the islands. The regent, advocate, fiscal, secretary, and archivist of each island, are appointed by the senate, subject to the approbation of the lord high commissioner. The municipal administration of each island consists of five members, independent of the president (who is the regent), appointed by the syndita of each island; out of the body of the said syndita, from "lists" of names sent in to the regent by the syndita from these "lists;" and from these ten, five are selected by the Regent to form the municipal body. (See Ch. iv. Art. 9, Constitutional Charter.) The qualifications of the syndita, or noble electors," I have not been able to ascertain with any accuracy; I understand that some votes are hereditary, but that pursuing any trade or business is a disqualification. To form a legal meeting one half of the syndita of each island must be present. For the other details of |