Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 5.djvu/356

344 mount yEnos, now Elato, Monte Negro, or the Black Mountain, has a height of 5300 feet, and frequently retains the snow for several months. It is not only the loftiest part of the sierra, but also the highest land in the whole Jonian group. The name &quot;Black&quot; was given from the darkness of the pine woods which still constitute the most striking feature in Cephalonian scenery, although their extent has been greatly curtailed by fire. On the summit there is still to be seen an ancient altar, surrounded by the bones of former sacrifice. The island is ill supplied with fresh water ; there are few permanent streams except the Rakli, and springs are apt to fail in dry summers. In the western part of the island a gulf runs up from the south a distance of about seven miles ; on its east side stands the chief town Argostoli, with about 9000 inhabitants, and on its west side the rival city of Lixuri, with 6000. About five miles from Argostoli is the Castle of St George, a building of Venetian origin, and the strongest fortifica tion in the island ; and between St George and the village of Mataxata, where Byron at one time resided, are several large catacombs. On an eminence east-south-east of Argostoli are the ruins of the ancient Cranii, and Lixuri is close to or upon those of Pale ; while on the other side of the island are the remains of Samos on the bay of the same name, of Proni or Pronni, further south above the vale of Rakli and its blossoming oleanders, and of an unknown city near the village of Scala. The ruins of this city in clude Roman baths, a brick-built temple, rock-cut tombs, and tesselated pavements ; and Cranii, Proni, and Samos are remarkable for stretches of Cyclopean and Hellenic walls, partly of the most irregular construction, and partly preserving almost unimpaired the results of the most perfect skill. The inhabitants of Cephalonia have all along been extremely active ; and no slight amount of toil has been expended in the construction of terraces on the steep sides of the hills. Owing to the thinness of the population, however, but a small proportion of the soil is under cul tivation, and the quantity of grain grown in the island is comparatively meagre. The staple is the currant, in the production of which the island surpasses Zante. The fruit is smaller than that of the Morea, and has a peculiar flavour ; it finds a market mainly in Holland, Belgium, and Germany. The grape vine is also grown, and the manu facture of wine is a rising industry. The olive crop is of considerable importance, and within recent years the culture of cotton in the low grounds has been successfully attempted. Manufactures are few and undeveloped, but lace from the aloe fibre, Turkey carpets, and basket-work are produced by the villagers, and boats are built at both the principal towns. Among recent improvements may be mentioned the erection of two steam-mills and the intro duction of steam-boat communication between Argostoli and Lixuri. In 1873 there were exported from the island 19,603,933 Ib of native currants, of the value of 123,176; and in the same year the re-exportation of Morea currants was 4,567,192 Bb, valued at 25,728. The total imports, which consist mainly of wheat, maize, barley, and rye, amounted to 287,493. Of all the seven islands Cephalonia and Zante are most purely Greek; and the inhabitants display great mental activity. Of several contributors to the national literature may be mentioned Bishop Maniati, author of a treatise on the Bchism of the Eastern and Western churches, and Andrea Lascarato, a vigorous political writer and keen defender of the British protectorate, who brought himself into great trouble by the freedom of his attacks in his Mysteries of Cephalonia.

1em 1em  CERAM, or, an island of the East Indian Archipelago, situated to the west of New Guinea, and belonging to the Dutch Government of the Moluccas. It lies between 2 45 30&quot; and 3 30 30&quot; S. lat., and extends from 128 to 131 10 E. long. ; its greatest length is about 200 miles, its greatest breadth about 50, and its area upwards of 6000 square miles. It is divided into two parts, Great Ceram and Little Ceram or Huvamohel, united by the isthmus of Taruno ; and, for administrative pur poses, the eastern portion is assigned to the residency of Banda, while the western belongs to that of Amboyna. A chain of mountains traverses the island from east to west, and attains in various parts a height of upwards of 8000 feet. The loftiest summit Nusa Keli has an elevation of 9500 feet ; and others of mark are Salagor, Trier, and Tomaehe. The coast is for the most part rocky and precipitous; but it is broken in several places by con siderable bays, of which the most important are Hatuvi and Savaai on the north, and Huvamohel, Amahay, Nusa Laut, and Selan on the south. The country is well watered with streams, which are of very little use, however, for naviga tion or systematic irrigation. Several hot springs have been discovered, and earthquakes are not unfrequent. A largo part of the interior is covered with dense and gloomy forests, and except along the coasts the population is very scant. For the naturalist Ceram is a comparatively uninteresting island, without any characteristic species or abundance of specimens. The Bandanese pay occasional visits to shoot bears and deer ; there are numbers of wild goats and cattle ; and among the .birds are mentioned cassowaries, cockatoos, birds of paradise, and the swallows that furnish the edible nests. A large number of fish are to be found in the various rivers ; and as early as 1860 no fewer than 213 species were described by Dr Bleeker in the NatuurTcundig Tijdschrift v. N. I. The most valuable timber trees are the iron-wood and the makila. Rice, maize, cocoa-nuts, sugar-cane, and a variety of fruits are grown ; but by far the most important production is the sago palm, which grows abundantly in the swampy districts; 