The trade of the Ionian isles is either reciprocal among themselves, or foreign, with the Morea and Albania, or with Venice and Trieste, and other ports of Europe. They export their own produce and manufactures, such as great of currants, to England, the trade in which has increased much of late years, including also the produce of [mit of the neighbouring continent: Salt from Corfu and Santa Maura, chiefly to the Purt of Coro at the mouth of the Po. Traffic in oil has been more flourishing since the year 1802, and moat part of it is exported to Venice, from whence it is distributed to various quarters of the continent. Brandy is sent from Cephalonia to Trieste, and to Venice, Leghorn, England, and Russia. Cotton is car ried from the same islands to Z4nte, where it is manufac tured into goods suitable for turbans, and thence exported to Constantinople. The honey is principally consumed at Venice, hare skins are sent to Corfu, and Iamb skins to Trieste and Senigaglia.
Thc imports of the Ionian islands consist of cattle and grain from the Morea, in proportion to the necessities of the population. P. sturage is scanty in the greater num ber of the islands Pax() does not pi oduce more grain than is adequate to one mot th's consumption, and it remained a long time uninha'aited, ow in perhaps to its natural sterility. Between 4000 and 5000 peasants annually repair front Zante to the Morea, for the purpose of assisting the inhabitants in reaping their harvests ; :Inns thew srr vices are paid in grain, eac I returns with several mot,ths provision for his family. A large quantity of salted fish is imported, whicl meets a ready sale. There arc likewise brought sugar, spices, drugs, and dyeing mat •rials, as in digo and alum ; woollen cloths. I'mn. Velye!, and some other articles of wearing apparel. Bar-iron, nails, and lead, are all in demand. Most of the imports of Cecilia Ionia have been introduced through Venice and Trieste, and the Greeks trading in colonial produce, are accustom ed to repair to Leghorn for supplies. A considerable num ber of veasels belong to the Ionian Isles, particularly Ce phalonia and Ithaca ; but their commerce has laboured under many restrictions, partly resulting from political cir cumstances. Vet their position is esteemed extremely favourable for traffic. They might be formed, it is said, into a common centre for the cummerce of Albania, of part of Thessaly and of Macedonia, us well as of Epirus anti the Morea. They are situated in Iront of the avenues of all the great communications between the interior of the Ottoman empire and the tvestern coast of Greece. It has been remarked farther, that " since Venice has become al most a neglected city of a continental power, instead ol be ing the capital of a trading republic, Corfu may easily take its place o ith regard to Italy, and seize on the commerce which the other nations of Europe came to carry on fur their Own account in her ports." The Ionian islands be
ing almost in contact with Greece, means might be adopt ed to attract the commerce of its prOVIIICOs. new sources of m can't would be opened up, and the govern ment, as the population became inure flourishing, would b.. me' better aoie to presume Its independence. Jolt it roust appear very doubtful, how far it would be easy to realise projects ul such magnitude, in territories where the resources are su limited.
According to a return made to the French government in 1807, the population of the seven principal islands con stittinag the Ionian republic, amounted to 206,000 souls. But some of them are greatly underpeopled, as Corfu ; whereas the nature of others would only render a greater supply of provisions necessary, were the population con siderably augmented. It is probable that all have been peopled from the Grecian continent ; and it is said that the population of one is known to have been twice renewed. There is little doubt that the manners of the inhabitants were originally those of Greeks exclusively ; but of later years, and at present, they participate with those of the Italians ; nevertheless, the lower ranks have retained the customs of their forefathers more conspicuously. Tneir dress is nearly the same as on the neighbouring continent, and their language is Greek ; while the higher ranks speak Italian, use the European costume, and preserve the same style of society. The Venetians, on assuming the sway of the Ionian Islands, introduced their own language into all the public acts, and it was used both at the bar and in the pulpit, as well as in the ordinary intercourse of life. But when this republic fell under the dominion of the French, the Greek language was encouraged, and super seded in a great degree the dialect of the Venetians. 1Ve believe, that two newspapers in Greek, and one in Italian, have been recently printed in these islands. The educa tion of youth, along with instruction in languages, was much neglected undo the former rulers, and was conduct ed usually at Venice and Padua ; but several scnools are now established, and men of considerable information dwell in Corfu, Ithaca, and Zante. The islanders in general are fond of shows and exhibitions : they even had an Italian opera, which maintained its place notwithstanding the oar. But there is a great intermixture of eastern manners to be seen ; and amidst the restrictions of sociality, the women ate so strictly watched in some of the islands, as scarcely to be accessible by their nearest relatives.