BOVA, a town of Naples, in the province of Ca labria Ultra. It is situated near the sea, on the brow of a hill, at the foot of the Appeunines, and is dis tant about 30 miles from Reggio. For the only re cent account of this town we are indebted to Mr Swinburne. " Being out of the way of trade and agriculture," says this intelligent traveller, " it can boast of neither wealth nor agriculture. Most of the inhabitants are of Greek origin and rite, - - - having emigrated from Albania a few centuries ago. - - The Albanese continued to come over so late as the reign of Charles V. and their numbers increased very sensibly. At present they amount to one hundred thousand at least, dispersed in a hundred villages, or towns ; but many of these settlements are wretch edly poor, and much decayed : those in the neigh bourhood ol Bova remarkably so. The villagers carry corn, cheese, and butter, to Reggio; but that being a poor mart, has but small demands, and a little circulation of money. Their common language is Albanese. The men can speak Calabrese ; but the
women, who neither buy nor sell, understand no tongue but their own, which they pronounce with great sweetness of accent. - - - The Greek rite is now observed in the province of Cosenza alone, the ministers and bishops having, by degrees, persuaded or compelled the other Albanese to conform to the Roman liturgy and discipline. - - - These Albanese arc a quiet industrious people, and their women rematkable for regularity of conduct. In their dress they preserve the costume of Illyricum, from whence their forefathers came. The most beautiful women are generally given in marriage to clergymen, and are exceedingly proud of their husbands, for among them priesthood is the highest nobility. When an ecclesiastic dies, his widow never enters into a second engagement, because none but a virgin can aspire to the hand of a priest, and any other is be neath her acceptance." See Swinburne's Travels in the two Sicilies, p. 348-354. (7r)