IONIAN IsLallos, is the name given to the islands in that part of the Mediterranean, between the coast of Greece and the island of Sicily. There are seven de tached islands along the shore, which are ranked among the Ionian islands ; namely, Corfu, Santa Maura, Ithaca, or Thiaki, Cephalonia, Zante, and Cerigo, together with several islets, extending from about 36° to 40° N. Lat. and from 19° 30' to 23° 10' E. Long. But this, perhaps, may lie more properly considered a political association than an arrangement to be recognised in geography, unless it were restricted to narrower limits, where the juxta posi tion of Santa Mama, Ithaca, Cephalonia, and 'Lame, would naturally admit of it. Corfu and Paxo are removed at a considerable distance north-west, and Cerigo more to the south-east, with few intermediate points of approxi mation. The number included under the general name of Jordan Islands has been different at different times; and there were formerly annexed to the jurisdiction under they were placed five sea-port towns on the neigh bon continent,—Bucintro, Gomenitza, Parga, Prevcsa, and Vol.ti The of these islands is in general temperate ; but, at certain seasonz, the transitions from heat to cold are so sudden, that the inhavaants are compelled to use great pre cautions against their chL-ts. Copious rains, attended by thunder, commence about same period as winter in Britain; yet roses blow during coldest weather. Hot and scorching winds sometimes destroy the vegetation ; violent squalls are continually felt in the channels separat ing their respective shores ; and the hurricanes on the west and north-west of Paxo have rooted up the olives, and obliged the islanders to substitute vines. All the islands are subject to earthquakes, which have repeatedly overthrown cities, and buried their inhabitants in ruins. Scarcely a month passes without shocks being experienced in Santa Mama. Zante was almost totally destroyed by one in 1790, and in the summer of 1811 several shocks daily were common. The sphere of their operation is not extensive, seldom affecting any but the isles in the vicinity, or the neighbouring continent ; and sometimes it is confin ed to a single island exclusively. They are also described to be undulations, rather than vibrations or concussions. Water is scarce throughout the islands. There is no large stream or river discharged into the sea ; and the inhabitants are supplied from wells, or, in many parts.
with cisterns excavated from the rocks to retain the resi due of the rains. Corfu, which extends about 35 miles iu length, and is esteemed the chief of the Ionian islands, contains a population of 60,0u0 souls. Paxo, distant 8 miles south of its extreme point, is 18 or 20 miles in cir cumference, and has about 4m.00 inhabitants. Santa Mama, lying considerably to the south-east, is about 50 miles in circuit, and contains about 20,000 inhabitants. Ithaca is interposed between it and Cephalonia, extending 18 miles in length, and having a population of 8.00 souls. Cepha lonia exceeds all the others in size. It is 100 miles in circuit, or, following the curvature of the coast, about 150, and its population is equal to that of Corfu. Zante lies 6 miles to the south of Cephalonia, and is about 12 miles in length, and 30 in circumference, but more populous in proportion than the others, as its inhabitants amount to 40,000. Cerigo lies at the distance of about 150 miles from Zante, in a straight line S. S. E., but farther by navigation. It is about 17 miles long, 10 broad, 45 in circuit, and its population amounts to about 10,000 per sons. Antipaxo lies south-east of Paxo, the Strophades between Zante and Cerigo, and Cerigotto to the east of the latter.
Almost all the Ionian islands are of irregular figure, presenting coasts which are rugged and of difficult access, with several harbours, for the most part insecure. To wards the north of Corfu there is a ,deep bay, with a nar row entrance, called Port Guvine, at the bottom of a great road, which, in the year 1799, contained the Russian and Turkish squadrons. Here it has been proposed to esta blish a naval yard, from the facility' with which materials could be brought to it at small expense ; and it is well de fended by military posts and batteries. A spacious bay nearly separates Ithaca into two parts. Cephalonia has several ports formed beside its long peninsulas, but some of them are choking up by earth washing clown from the hills, together with the sand of the sea. Cerigo is begirt by rocks and shoals, which are sometimes fatal to mari ners, and the navigation of the channels separating the islands from each other, or dividing them from the conti nent, appears difficult and hazardous.