Argostoli, the chief town of this island, stands at the foot of a hill, close to a bay of the same name, in an insalubrious and disagreeable situation. Its whole appearance exhibits incontestable evidence of the ef fect of earthquakes ; and in addition to the ruins dif fusely scattered, many buildings are advancing to rapid decay. Though the residence of the executive govern ment, it is an inconsiderable place, containing a lazaret to and several convents. On the 1 lth of July, in the three successive years 1765, 1766, and 1767, an earth quake is said to have been felt almost exactly at the same hour, the last of which was particularly fatal to Argos toli.
Lixuri, the second town, also stands close to the sea, but in a more favourable situation, both for health and commerce. The same earthquake, however, so destruc tive to Argostoli, also ravaged Lixuri. It now presents a heap of ruins, and the streets are so much obstructed by them, that it requires some address in the passenger to find his way.
The fortress of Aso, which includes an inconside rable town, was built by the Venetians in 1595, on a hill two leagues from Argostoli. The bill being lofty and precipitous, and accessible only by intricate paths, there is an irregularity in the fortifications, which, though it might serve as a retreat to the inhabitants, would preclude it from supporting a siege. Below there is a small harbour, which the earth and stones brought down from the hill by heavy rains are gra dually choking up. The cathedral, which is small, and moderately decorated, stands here, and also a public building for the accommodation of the governor of the island.
When Cephalonia came under the dominion of the Venetians, it. was erected into an archbishopric ; but some of the prelates claiming undue prerogatives over the clergy of %ante, excited great dissensions in the church. These were terminated by a decree of tile senate, ordaining. the election of an ecclesiastic of the latter island, alter two CephaIonians had success.ve ly occupied the archiepiscopal see. The eleecioo conducted with great ceremony and formality, and for merly could not take place unless in c of the go vernor-general of the islands, and different members of the state.
There are no less than twenty live monasteries and ,}nunneries on the island, one of which, a con ent of C; reek mats, is situated on a hill near the fortress of Axo. Their church, in which they piously preserve the remains of St Erasmus, is the best endolted in Cephalonia. Tnese relics, which they view with particular veneration, are contained in a large silver shrine, and exposed at festi vals, or in times of public calamity.
Amidst such a redundance of religious houses, the education of youth seems to be cultivated in no public seminary. The natives, however, are not void of a de
sire to promote some points of knowledge, and in 1790 they founded au agricultural academy.
The only considerable manufactures in the island arc of cotton cloths, (there called dimito,) and rossolis. Be ing dyed blue, the former serve for apparel to the Greeks, and from 160,000 to t70,000 yards are exported to the Venetian islands, the Morea, and llomelia. The latter is a strong liquor of agreeable flavour, prepared from odoriferous herbs abounding on the hills, but especially on "%lona Enos. Somewhat more than half the %aloe of the former is exported.
The Cephalonians arc an active and intelligent race of people, temperate, and industrious ; so that while the neighbouring islanders are either overwhelmed with indolence, or dissipating their wealth in luxurious or frivolous pursuits, they are providing stores for future necessities. A project once formed, is steadily main tained, in opposition to every resistance experienced, and the projector knows to adapt himself to all the cir cumstances which are likely to promise success. Emi grating from their native soil, the Cephalonians are frequently occupied during 20 or 30 years in seeking the means of independence, which they return to their island to enjoy. There hospitality is a leading charac teristic ; strangers arc well received and entertained, and their presence is courted. The people, in general, arc fond of society, and the women of the island enjoy unre strained liberty. Nevertheless, to counterbalance the qualities thus ascribed to them, it is said that the men are intriguing and vindictive, that they arc slow to par don an aggressor, and the harmony of social intercourse is interrupted by the virulence of party dissensions is the towns.
Several celebrated persons owe their birth to Cepha lonia. From modern history we learn, that in the lat ter part of the seventeenth century. a Cephalonian namecl Phaulkon was viceroy of the kingdom of Slain, and formed an intercourse between that country and Eu rope. Phaulkon, who was sprung from noble paren tage, after first emigrating to England. repaired to In dia, and was at length employed as a factor at See-y-thaa, the capital of Siam. There he realized a considerable Iortune, which he vested in commercial speculation, and ernbaiked along with it on a voyage for another conn try. Ile was shipwrecked, however, along with a Sia mese of rank, who saved nothing but his life, and who, in gratitude for Phaulkon carrying him home in a bark which lie had purchased, affording him distinguished pa tronage. he soon rose to the highest offices in the state.