AN ANALYSIS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.

13

ticity of the atmosphere appears to be suspended, and the inhabitants of the shores it visits are affected with lassitude and debility. At Palermo, where its intensity is greatest, it never lasts more than forty-eight hours, but at Naples it sometimes continues for weeks. The Mistral is a north-west wind, which blows down the Gulf of Lyons with great violence. The Kamsin, a south-south-west wind, visits Egypt during March and April, blowing for about three successive days at each visit. While it continues, the atmosphere acquires a purple tinge, and appears to be on fire; and the blasts, which pass over in rapid succession, resemble the breath from a furnace. This is the period when the plague bursts forth in Egypt with all its malignity. The term kamsin implies a wind of fifty days, and is applied to this precise species because it blows some time in the fifty days of March and April. The Samiel, a poisonous wind of the Arabs, which contains a large portion of azote, at Bassora blows from the north-west; at Bagdad from the west; at Mecca from the east; and in Syria from the south-east: it is identical with the simoom of the Desert, and is similar in its nature and effects. The Tramontana, or Etesian winds, blow from the north over the Archipelago, and are attended with coldness, and darkness in the horizon. These blasts injure vegetation, and produce head-ache. The continuance of the Etesian winds for a few short hours, clothes the mountains of Epirus with snow, which the siroccos dissipate in as short a period. Land-breezes blow along the Levantine coasts, where they are called by the Turks, Imbat.

The temperature of the Mediterranean is much affected by the wind. On the south shores is a tropical climate; on the north, a considerable variation of the seasons exists. A few days of slight frost, however, constitute the severest winters, and snow thaws upon the coasts in a few hours. It is recorded as a phenomenon in the history of the Mediterranean, that the Adriatic was frozen in the years 860 and 1234. The winters in the Ægean sea are less agreeable and genial than in other parts of the Mediterranean climate, from the prevalence of the sirocco, accompanied by heavy rains, thunder, and lightning. The climate of Attica, and Modern Greece generally, is delightful and salubrious, being constantly dry and serene. The medium heat of the sea around the island of Sicily is from 72° to 76°, which, being 10° or 12° warmer than the water at the same depth (twenty fathoms) outside the Straits of Gibraltar, explains the greater evaporation and consequent currents.

The marine productions of this sea are numerous and important. Coral is found on the Barbary coast, around the Lipari Islands, and in the straits of Messina. The Sicilians and the French make its fishery an object of their industry. A small quantity is obtained also in the Gulf of Ajaccio, in Corsica, and off the coasts of Sardinia and Minorca. There are eleven other species of the sea-fan found in the Mediterranean. The chief fishery is in the straits of Messina, from the Faro towards the Church of Grotta: the coral ground extends about six miles in length, is divided into ten portions, only one of which is drawn with the net each year, and lies at a depth of about seventy-five fathoms below the surface. Varieties of naked molusca are found in the Italian seas: the medusa pulmo is the most common. Here also is

D

"the Portuguese man-of-war," called by the French, la vellette et la gallere-the sail and the galley. The species of testaceous molusca are very numerous; and the murex afforded the purple dye of the ancients. Oysters, limpets, scallops, and muscles are found in abundance; the last, in the Gulfs of Nice and Adria, generally enclosed in masses of limestone. It is called the sea-date from its resemblance to that fruit, and is held in esteem both at Rome and Naples. The sea-pine is a bivalve yielding a species of tow or silk, from which gloves and stockings are manufactured. The prevailing species, as well as the paper nautilus, are taken in the Gulf of Taranto and off Cape St. Vito. Off the coast of Tuscany, crabs and lobsters are procured and a delicate prawn, which is also found in the Adriatic.

Thirty-eight genera of fish, distinguished into a hundred species, have already been discovered in the Mediterranean sea and its tributary rivers; but of these, the tunny, anchovies, and sprats are the only species which the inhabitants of those climates export, or make objects of commerce. The tunny enters the Mediterranean from the Atlantic in spring, passes into the Black sea, and that of Azov, where it spawns; and returns to the ocean in autumn. The shoals enter the Euxine along the Asian coast, and return by the European. Aristotle and Pliny accounted for this singularity by supposing that this fish saw better with the right eye than with the left; modern icthyologists attribute this movement not to choice but to necessity, being in obedience to wind and current. Anchovies enter the sea in May, June, July, and constitute a lucrative employment to the French fishermen. The hippocampus, or cavallo marino, is found in the gulf of Naples, and, when dried, is preserved as a curiosity, the head resembling that of a horse, and the tail that of a shrimp. Cetaceous animals have appeared here, but so few in number, and at such intervals of time, that it is not probable they belonged to the Mediterranean genera. In the year 1620, a pike-headed whale, 100 feet long, was killed off the coast of Corsica; and in 1750 a wind-nose whale was taken off the Provencal coast. The whale which Pliny speaks of, as having entered the port of Ostia in the reign of Claudian, excited the wonder of the whole Roman people. The grampus, porpoise, and dolphin inhabit the Mediterranean; and the modern, like the ancient Greeks, retain an extraordinary veneration for the last-mentioned species.

Independent of the classic recollections, the historic monuments, the ruined empires, that deck and designate vast portions of its shores-exclusive of its beautiful islands, salubrious climate, smooth waters, and security of navigation-the Mediterranean confers incalculable advantages upon the thousands that dwell on its long line of coast. The European particularly feels the benefit of this vast aqueous separation; it divides him on the north from the frozen regions of the Arctic pole, and on the south from the scorching heats of Africa. The Mediterranean, with its dependent inland seas, enlarges the resources of commerce and navigation, and may be said to unite while it separates the inhabitants of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

CEPHALONIA, the largest and most populous of the septinsular Union of the Ionian Isles, ranks next to Corfu in political importance. It is placed between the parallels 38 °2′, and 38° 29′ N., and between the meridians, 20° 21', and 20° 50' E. Its form is irregular, and surface mountainous and picturesque: the extreme length is thirty-two miles; greatest breadth, twenty-four; and superficial area, three hundred and forty-eight square miles. Viewed from the sea, the coasts appear more picturesque than those of Corfu; and would be much more so, were their eminences and sides clothed with wood; but, in general, they present too sterile an aspect, and, in fact, yield but little produce. Hence it is that the resources and extent of Cephalonia appear so disproportioned. Corn is less generally cultivated here than currants, grapes, and olives, which are more congenial to the soil and climate, and more lucrative to the grower. There are few quadrupeds on the island: goats monopolize the loftiest and most picturesque retreats, and will, probably, continue to do so until plantation shall have become more popular. Besides Argostoli, the capital, the island contains one hundred and seventy-five villages and hamlets, and maintains 50,000 inhabitants. Amongst the picturesque spots, which vary and adorn the surface, the village of Kaligata is pre-eminent in loveliness. It is one of those scenes of richness, warmth, and splendour, to be found and enjoyed only in an Ionian landscape and climate. In the accompanying view it appears embosomed in woods, above which rises a light and fairy-formed belfry; beyond, the calm mirror of the bright blue sea reflects the glowing hues of the west; while the foreground consists of luxuriant vegetation, closely interwoven,-flower, fruit, shrub, and trees, of the gayest

colours, and most variegated shades. The vine entwines the aloe: myrtle and ivy dispute the highest place on the steep and verdure-clad bank, and oftentimes, arching over the highway, exclude the beams of the meridian sun.

Cefalonia, or Cephalonia, was known, in the Homeric age, by the names of Samos, of Epirus Melæna, and Tetrapolis. It then possessed four large cities; but, in the time of Strabo, only two remained. Besides the ruins of Same, the capital, Pliny speaks of the towns of Palis, Cranii, and Pronesos, which had been destroyed by the Romans. The Thebans, under Amphitryo, first subdued this island, and slew Pterelas the native prince. While Amphitryo was conducting the war in Samos, Cephalus, having accidentally killed his wife Procris, fled to the Theban prince for protection, who received him kindly, and appointed him governor of the island, which was henceforth called Cephalonia.

For six generations the descendants of Cephalus reigned over Cephalonia, when, the oracle of Delphi having advised their removal to Athens, the islanders adopted a republican form of government, and chose the city of Palis for their new capital. Under an independent government, Cephalonia acquired nautical reputation, and commercial prosperity. Jason touched at the port of Cranii, in his Argonautic expedition, and gave to the place the name "Argostoli." Even antecedent to the Trojan war, the Cephalonites, according to Thucydides, furnished a contribution of ships and men, to aid the Corinthians against the Corcyreans: and some years subsequently, when their old allies resented their change of mind, and besieged Cranii, the city was so strongly fortified and so bravely defended, that the Corinthians were compelled to retire with loss.

The ancient remains, that have been discovered in various parts of the island, sufficiently confirm the relation of Thucydides. The walls of Cranii may be traced with ease, and are of the same age and style as the Cyclopean architecture in Ithaca and Santa Maura. The whole island was anciently divided into four principalities, of one of which Cranii was the capital. Before the massive walls of this little city, Philip of Macedon was subjected to a defeat; and, in later ages, Flaminius, the Roman consul, suffered, in the same place, a severe repulse. The brave Cephalonites, however, were reserved by fate for the infliction of Roman vengeance: having resisted the strength and discipline of the legions led by Fulvius Nobilior, for a space of four months, they at last surrendered, when all the inhabitants of Cephalonia were sold into slavery, and the island incorporated with the dominions of the commonwealth. In the year 364, Cephalonia became subject to the emperors of the East, by whom it was retained until A.D. 982, when John Leone, with a body of Lombards, invaded and conquered it. When the mighty empire of the East was overthrown, Cephalonia was assigned to the Venetian republic, and continued to be a dependency of that power until Venice was occupied by Napoleon Buonaparte.-See articles IONIAN ISLES and CORFU.