Sicily seems to contain no iron. Marble, alabaster, and other kinds of fine stones are found in abundance.• Amber is found near Catania. There is rock-salt near Castrogiovanni, but the greater part of the salt consumed or exported is sea-salt, which is made in extensive salterns along the coast, especially near Trapani, Marsala, and Agosta. The exported salt is mostly put on board Baltic or Norway traders.
Sicily has few lakes. The Lake of Lentini, so called from the town which occupies the site of the ancient Greek city of Leontini, which stood on the south-east shore of the lake, lies near the east coast between Catania and Syracuse. It is of considerable extent, about 12 miles in circumference, but stagnant, shallow, and insalubrious. It abounds with fish. The plain northward from Lentini, now called the Plain of Catania, is the ancient Leontinus Campus, celebrated for its luxuriant fertility. An ancient tradition fixes the abode of the Lmstry genes in this plain. The Lake of Pergusa, near Castrogiovanni, in the centre of the island, is about 4 miles round. It is supposed to be the Lake Pergu: mentioned in ancient tradition of the abduction of Prosperine by Pluto. There is a small lake near Randazzo at the northern foot of !Etna; and another called Cantarro near the coast of the western part of the island, a few miles from Castel-Vetrano.
The sea around the coast of Sicily abounds with fish of various sorts, but the most productive fisheries are those of the migrating fish, the sardine, and tunny. Most of the fish are consumed in Sicily and Naples and other parts of Italy.
The cultivation of corn is said to occupy about one-half of the tilled land. The hest wheat is that of Termini. Corn was formerly dear in the sea-port towns, owing to the want of roads in the interior. The lower classes, especially in the interior, eat barley bread. Indian corn and beans are cultivated to a small extent. Wine is made in abundance, especially in the southern part of the island. The white wines of Marsala, Castel-Vetrano, Catania, and Bronte are exported in considerable quantities. The amarena of Agosta and the muscat of Syra cuse are fine dessert wines. The red wine of Faro is a good common wine. Sicilian wine is exported to England, Germany, Spanish America, and Brazil. The distillery of brandy has been greatly
improved of late years, and a considerable quantity is exported to South America, as well as tartar, both white and red. Dried raisins, called zibib, are exported from Messina and other ports. Messina is the depot for the currants of the Lipari Islands, of which about 12,000 barrels are yearly exported.
Olive-oil of an inferior quality is produced chiefly along the northern coast. The oil of Tuna and Cefalh is considered the best. Olive plantations might easily be spread all over Sicily. Linseed-oil is made at Catania, and along the southern coast. Lemons and oranges are plentiful and fine, and are exported in considerable quantities ; but much of the fruit is left to rot on the ground. The manufacture of citric acid, and essences of lemon, citron, orange, anise-seed, lavender, rosemary, and bergamot, constitutes another branch of industry. Silk, a staple article of Sicilian produce, is sold to French and Swiss manufacturers. The silk of Feria is the best ; and next to it is the silk of Fiona, Barnette, and San Martino. Messina is the great mart for silk.
Liquorice juice is made chiefly at Catania, Patti, and Palermo, and exported to England and the north of Europe, where it is employed in brewing. The pods of the carob-tree, which grows wild in the southern part of the island, are exported to Trieste, Naples, Leghorn, and Genoa : they are chiefly need as forage for horses. Manna, which is an exuda tion of the sweet sap of the ornus (a species of ash which grows in the mountains of Sicily) is procured by making vertical incisions in the bark of the tree. Almonds and pistachio-nuts also are largely exported to Germany and the north of Europe. Sumach is exported chiefly to England. The best sumach is that of Alcamo and Trapani. Kid-skins and lamb-ekins, both dressed and undressed, are shipped from Messina to Germany and England. The other articles of Sicilian produce are—rice, nuts, walnuts, dried-figs, cantharidea, honey, wax, ;rum, soda, and cotton, which is cultivated to a considerable extents The sugar-cane (eassnamele), which was once extensively cultivated in Sicily, is now entirely abandoned. The above list of products shows the great natural capabilities of the island.