MOREA, a peninsula of a very irregular form, sometimes compared to the shape of a Mulberry leaf, and joined to the continent by a narrow neck of land, called the Isthmus of Corinth, is situated between 36° 29' and 38° 30' North Latitude, and between 21° 30', and of East Longitude from Greenwich. Its great est extent, from the Gulf of Lepanto to Cape i\latapan, is about 120 miles, and its greatest breadth 110 ; but its coast is deeply indented by numerous gulfs, inlets, and bays. It is divided into four provinces, namely, Chiarenza, Belvidere, Tzakonia, and Romania Major. In Chiarenza, which includes all Achaia Propria, the principal places are Saraoalle, Trill, and Caminitza, which are only inconsiderable villages. In Belvidere, which contains Ens and Alessenia, there are Larissa, on a river of the same name ; Chiarenza, (Cyllene,) at the bottom of a gulf of that name ; Tornesc, a vil lage with a castle on an eminence near a cape of the same name ; Gastouni, a considerable town south from the ricer Pencils; Callivi (supposed io be the ancient Elis ;) Belvidere, a considerable town in a delightful situation ; Rofeo, near the site of the ancient Olympia ; Arcadia, on the bay of the same name ; Navarim, with a large commodious fort in its vicinity ; Modon, a small fortified trading town, with a good harbour ; Coron, a little town, well defended, near a gulf of the same name ; Nlessene, once the capital of Messenia, now a small hamlet called Mavra-Matea, near Mount Vul cano ; and Calamatia, an open town on the river Stro mlo. In Tzakonia, which includes Arcadia and La conia, are Misitra, near the ruins of ancient Sparta, defended by a castle containing several public edifices ; Cyparissi, (Tyros,) on the Gulf of Napoli ; Malvasis Vecchia, a little town under a strong citadel, on a small island connected with the Continent by a bridge, from the neighbourhood of which place comes an excellent wine, called Alalvoisia or Malmsey ; Colokythia (Gy thium.) a small town on the west coast of a gulf so named ; Nlaina, a town and district on the north of Cape Matapan, inhabited by an independent and warlike tribe, called Mainotti or Mainottes, supposed by some to be descendants of the Spartans, but who are more probably sprung from some Slavonian horde. Leon
dari, a village on Mount Taygetus ; Trapolissa, which may be regarded the modern capital of the Morea, near the site of Tegda ; Orchomenus, Phonia, and Gardena. In Romania Major, which comprehends Corinth,Sicyon, and Argos, are Colin:), (Corinth) on the high ground which looks down upon the gulf of Lepanto ; Vasilica (Sicyon) containing a few mean dwelling houses ; Staphlica (Phlius) an inconsiderable village at the foot of mount Gromo; Vostitza (iEgium) a small place on the border of the gulf ; Drcpano, a village with a har bour near the promontory of the same name ; Patras, a trading town containing about 4000 inhabitants, to the westward of Lepanto ; Argolis, a town of considerable extent, but without any vestige of its ancient edifices ; Agios, Adrianos, or Charia, (Mycene) now a small hamlet ; Nemea, where there are some ruins of the ancient city of that name ; Napoli di Romania, (Nauplia) a trading town, strongly fortified, with a spacious and secure harbour; Pidavra (Epidaurus) a little town in the recess of the gulf of Argos, naturally strong, provided with a tolerable port ; Damala, Castri, and Hydra, places of little note, except that the inhabitants of the last men tioned are remarked as excellent sailors.
The present appearance of the Morea, as far as re spects the natural features of the surface, corresponds very exactly with the description given of it in the Itinerary of Pausanias ; but the country appears re markably diminutive, when contrasted with the great events in Grecian history. The mountains of Greece are uniformly composed of limestone ; and of that kind of formation which is supposed to be peculiarly liable to the phenomena of earthquakes. The valleys are vast basins, surrounded by circles of these mountains, and the country is thus divided into a number of distinct craters, each of which contains a spacious level area, naturally fitted for a separate community. Its sur face is compared by Dr. Clarke to a number of saucers with broken lips, placed together on a table. •xcept ing the Pamesus, Cephisus, and Eurotas, the rivers of the Morea are exhausted ; and arc nothing- more than little streams, with almost dry channels in summer, but rapid torrents in winter.