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 204 GREECE George of Denmark was unanimously elected by the assembly, and the election was con- firmed by the great powers on July 13. Con- siderable disturbance had meanwhile existed throughout the country ; but when King George landed at the Piraeus in October he found the kingdom in a condition of at least outward quiet. On Oct. 31 he took the oath to support the constitution ; and soon after- ward the Ionian islands were formally annexed to his dominions (treaty of Nov. 14, 1863). Greek politics continued to be marked by dis- sension and partisan intrigue, involving con- stant ministerial changes and detriment to the general welfare. In 1866 the Cretan revo- lution threatened to involve Greece in a con- flict with Turkey on account of the assist- ance furnished to the Cretans by blockade runners and of the asylum given to fugitives, more than 30,000 of whom, chiefly women and children, took refuge in Greece. (See CANDIA.) The danger was finally averted, but the finances of Greece, owing to the defensive measures during the threatening period, were left in an embarrassed condition, and financial schemes have since formed the chief feature of Greek politics. Outside of partisan strug- gles, only one event has in the last five years excited attention in other countries. This was the massacre by brigands of four members of a party of English travellers, who in 1870 were captured near the plain of Marathon and carried into the mountains, while a messenger was sent to Athens to offer, on the part of the banditti, the alternative of a large ransom and amnesty for themselves, or the death of all the prisoners in their hands. The Greek govern- ment would not consent to treat with the rob- bers, as even the king himself does not pos- sess that power under the constitution; and though every effort was made to rescue the Englishmen, they were put to death. The affair was mismanaged through the interfer- ence of the British ambassador, who had at- tempted to treat directly with the brigands, offering them money and a frigate to take them to Malta; but they rejected these of- fers and insisted upon amnesty. England held the Greek government responsible for the massacre, on the ground that it was bound to suppress organized brigandage in its ter- ritory, and the matter threatened to lead to hostilities. But the danger was averted by negotiation and the payment of 10,000 by the Greek government to the family of Lloyd, pne of the murdered travellers, and the sub- ject was gradually suffered to drop. The lu-w kingdom on its establishment embraced, of the country constituting ancient Greece, the southernmost districts of Thessaly, cen- tral Greece, and the Peloponnesus. Of the islands, the Cyclades (with the exception of one), Euboaa, and a few of the Sporades (in the wider signification) were embodied in the new kingdom ; the Ionian islands remained under the protectorate of Great Britain till 1863, NOMARCHIES, AC. Square miles. Population in 1870. Attica and Bceotia 2,481 186,804 Eubcea 1,574 82,541 Phthiotis and Phocis 2,053 108 421 8,025 121 693 Achaia and Elis. 1,908 149,561 Arcadia 2,028 131,740 Laconia 1,678 105,851 Messenia 1,226 130,417 Argolis and Corinthia 1448 127,820 Cyclades 926 123 299 Corcyra (Corfu) 427 96,940 Cephallenia (Cephalonia) 802 77,882 Zacvnthus (fcanle) ' 277 44.557 Soldiers of army and navy 13 735 Bailors, not present in the country 7,133 Total 19,853 1,457,894 when they were ceded by treaty to Greece ; all the other islands remained with Turkey, and the repeated insurrections, particularly in Candia, were without result. After the incor- poration of the Ionian islands, the area of the kingdom of Greece amounted to 19,353 sq. m. It is now divided into 13 nom archies, as fol- lows, the former Ionian islands being embraced in the three last named, with the exception of Cerigo and the adjacent islets, which have been united with the nomarchy of Argolis and Corinth : In the mountains but little vegetation besides alpine plants grows at a height greater than 5,500 ft. ; but below this line the hillsides are clothed with luxuriant forests, principally of pine and oak. Lower down the walnut and chestnut abound ; and below a height of 1,500 ft. is found as great a variety of valuable trees, shrubs, and plants as is afforded by any other part of the world. All the fruits belonging to the latitude grow vigorously and produce abun- dantly, and if cultivated with proper skill and care would afford a valuable surplus for export. Although the soil of Greece is good, agricul- ture has been greatly neglected. More than half the area is productive soil, of which 20 per cent, is arable land, 1 per cent, garden land, 4 per cent, vine land, 41 per cent, meadow and pasture, and 34 per cent, wood land. The most important products are olives and currants ; the latter are chiefly cultivated on the coast of the Peloponnesus and on the islands of Corfu, Zante, and Cephalonia, which from 1866 to 1870 yielded an annual average product of 170,- 000,000 Ibs., the larger portion of which was exported to England. Wine culture yields an- nually about 18,000,000 gallons. Among the other products are tobacco, cotton, figs, lem- ons, and valonia. Breeding of sheep, goats, and silkworms is also carried on to a considerable extent ; several places on the coast have exten- sive fisheries. The culture of forests is greatly neglected, although the country has a peculiar kind of oak which is important for commerce. The number of horses is estimated at 100,000 ; of mules and asses likewise at 100,000 ; and in 1867 there were 109,904 cattle, 2,539,538 sheep, 2,415,143 goats, and 55,776 swine. The