RHODES is the name of an island in the Mediter ranean, near the coast of Asia Minor, and forming part of the Turkish empire. This island, which was one of the most celebrated of the Grecian states, and rendered illustrious by its commercial wealth, as well as by its naval greatness, forms now a very insignificant portion of the globe. The island is about 12 leagues long from north to south, about 6 broad, and about 44 in circuit. Its form is nearly triangular, and was hence called Trinacria.
The land rises gradually from the sea ; and from the excellence of the climate, and the fertility of the soil, produces abundant crops. No agricultural skill, how ever, is employed to aid the natural fertility of the soil, so that weeds and useless plants occupy the place of corn and olives. A tract of low hills next appears, which still produces some of the celebrated perfumed wines of the island, and a range of mountains succeeds, thinly covered with those fine forests which furnished the wood for the ships of the ancient Rhodians. In the centre of that range rises the steep and lofty summit of Mount Artemira, which commands a prospect of all the surrounding sea and coasts.
As neither the corn nor the olives raised in the island are sufficient for its consumption, both are im ported to a considerable extent. The quantity of cot ton cultivated is scarcely sufficient for the wants of the people. Wine, figs, and other fruits, are exported in considerable quantities.
The climate of this island is every way delightful. The air is salubrious.—" Every gale is scented," says Dr. Clarke, " with powerful fragrance, wafted from groves of orange and citron trees. Numberless aroma tic herbs exhale, at the same time, such profuse odour, that the whole atmosphere seems impregnated with a spicy perfume." Hardly a day passes in which the sun is not visible. The winds vary little. They blow
from the north or north-west during almost every month, and with some violence. The heats of summer arc by no means intense. Hot winds, however, blow from Caramania, in June and July. The winters are wet and mild. According to Savary, the population is distributed in the following manner; Rhodes, the ca• pital, is inhabited chiefly by Turks. Five villages are occupied by Musselmen. Five towns, and 41 villages, are inhabited by Greeks. The families he reckons at 4700 Turkish families, 2500 Greek families, 100 fami lies of Jews, making in all 7300, which will give a po pulation of 736,500. Mr. Turner estimates the Greeks at 14,000, occupying 42 villages ; and he says that the remaining 6000, consisting of Turks and Jews, inh:tbit the capital. The remittances to Constantinople are considered to be about 6300/.
Lindus, now Undo, the ancient capital of Rhodes, and one of the three cities alluded to by Homer, B. 668.) has been little visited by travellers. Dr. Clarke learned that there existed there the ruins of a temple, which may have stood on the site of the Pane, originally consecrated to the Lindian Minerva by the daughters of Danaus. Many inscriptions were observed, one of which given by Dr. Clarke, contains some evidence respecting the position of the ancient city. Vases of great an tiquity were dug up in the garden. By travelling on mules, Lindus is not more than one long day's journey from Rhodes.
The island of Rhodes is reduced to the greatest wretchedness by the oppressions of the Turks. The capitation tax is 30 piastres per house. The natives are compelled to labour for the government for little or no pay during three months of the year.