While this island was in the hands of the Venetians, its government was vested in a Cephalonia') nobleman, elect ed by the council of Argostoli, the chief town. Although not lucrative, the appointment was an object of ambition among the Cephalonians, and never bestowed on any one who had not previously filled the highest offices ; and he seas replaced annually. His authority was limited chiefly to matters of police ; he had to make reports on what pro ceedings were necessary to the provcditore of Cephalonia, whose instructions he was bound to observe. By the later regulations of the Ionian republic, no native of the island can be named ; and the governor is changed every second year Ile is entitled to a residence in the palace, and is assisted by a secretary and other public officers.
No vestiges whatever remain to prove the ancient ce lebrity of Ithaca. Its situation and natural aspect utterly preclude it from having ever been of any political import ance ; it even seems to have been totally deserted ; for, ac cording to some authors, it was twice colonized from Ce phalonia in modern times ; and on one occasion, the Vene tians granted as much land to each settler as his circum stances would enable him to cultivate.
Nevertheless, late travellers affirm, that the descriptive parts of the Odyssey, relative to Ithaca, must have been made by Homer on the very spot, for they think that they can be actually recognized. Foundations lately discovered on the hill of Aito, on the narrow isthmus above alluded to, are apparently those of a city of the highest antiquity. Some of the stones forming the vestiges of the walls are of very large and their arrangement is such as exclusively belongs to the earliest periods. A modern au thor remarks, that the city on the hill of Aito was situated " upon an isthmus, but in the time of Homer it certainly was known by the name of the island." It has been usual ly affirmed, however, though without any other grounds than mere conjecture, that Vathi occupies the site of the ancient Ithaca. The foundations yet visible on the hill of
Alto, it is supposed, may correspond with the description given of the house of Ulysses, which, from its position, commanded a view of the opposite sides of the island. A second city, supposed Alalcomcne, mentioned by Plutarch, is said to have stood between Port Polis and Frichies, on a neck of land, cut as narrow as the isthmus of Aito. Not fat from Oxoai, there is a rock called Homer's School, which preserves the vestiges of vet y ancient masonry, and has had niches, which probably have contained native offerings. When it received this name is unknown ; but it is record ed, that several cities having disputed the honour of giving birth to Homer, Adrian consulted an oracle, by which Itha ca was named. The most conspicuous antiquities now ex tant, are such tombs or sarcophagi as are usually found near the remains of the oldest cities in other parts of the Grecian territories, though so simple and void of orna ment, as to preclude any opinion being formed regarding their real era. Coins and medals also are frequently dug up here, but those having the name of Ithaca itself arc rare ; and, according to the inhabitants, are found only be tween the ruins on the hill of Aito and Porto Molo. Bosset describes several of these, which he says have evi dently been struck in commemoration of Ulysses. Yet, notwithstanding all that has been written regarding Ithaca, the antiquities now extant may belong to a period long pos terior to that in which Homer has laid the scenes of his poetry ; while they may still be very old. Traditions are not wanting in the island of Ithaca regarding Ulysses, and there are even individuals among the inhabitants, who are believed to be his descendants. East Long. 21° 40', North Lat. 38° 47'. (c)