Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1857-11-28
A VISIT To ELIZA

things that are CHsar'~, we viii now
proceed 20 give the Elbans their
due. they are about 1000 in num-
Der, a peaceful people, with distinct
Tuscan manners and language, and |
possessing material peculiar;ties.
The island is too small, and lies too
near the Tuscan coast to allow any
independent popular spirit to rise.
There are no Corsican customs to
be found, although 50 near that
island and no traces Of the vendetta
are now visible, although instances
OF it have been known; only in a
case Of absolute necessity does the
Corsican bandit seek a refuge in
Elba, when he can not maintain
himself elsewhere. But both island
races have one trait in common
hospitality. The villages look
brown and gloomy, like the Corsi
can, as they are built OF the native
stone. They also stand on the
heights to protect them from the
pirates, and and are guarded by
towers.
The most fertile portion Of the
island is that looking toward Italy,
and the mountains OF Marciana
contains an abundance of valuable
granite, marble, aIabaster, crystal,
and other minerals, while the
village Of Marciana grows the best
chest uts. There are but few and
bad olives in Elba, and there is
generally q great want OF wood on
the island. Wine is produced in
great quantities, and lemons grow
III protusion Large quantities of
maize are grown III the valleys.
Hence, the people of Elba want
nothing to live and rejoice in their
charming and mild country, for be-
sides the blessed gifts OF the garden
and the fields, the earth has given
them the ineNhaustibte iron ore Of
Rio, and the sea its salt and splen
did fish. The Etruscans and
Romans used to visit Porto Ferrajo,
to catch sardines and thunny, which
are still found III extraordinary
quantities. The fish and iron rem
dered Elba an object Of cupiditv to
all sea taring nations, and like Cor
sica, it was ravaged by Phenicians,
Carthagenialls, Tyrrhenes, and
Romans. In the old times it was
! Ethalia, then Iloa, and Ilva in the
middle ages, when the present name
OF Elba is derived.
Next to Porto Ferralo, the most
important town is Longone, on the
opposite side of the island. 1t is
surmounted by fortress, origin
ally built by the Spaniards, but
which Napoleon destroyed in a
great measure in 1915, after be had
left the island. 1t is now used as
a fortress for political offenders.
In Longone, Napoleon also had
what is called a palace, modest
Hooking house, where he alighted
whenever he rode over from the
capital. The surrounding scenery
: pleased linn greatly, and he was
: accustomed to dine on an open spot
below the mountain, on a seat cut
ont Of the solid rock, (still called the
Canape.) round which he had plan
! ted mulberry trees. Thence he
would examine through a telescope
the passing vessels and the coast OF
! Italy. Not far from Longone is the
rich valley Of Rio, SO celebrated fol
its iron works. The stream from
which t derives its name is popu
larly supposed to rise in Corsica
and reach Elba by snbterranear
passages. Chestnut leaves and bran
,, che, which the water brings with i
l are a plain proof Of its Corsical
! origin. However this may be, this
new Arethusa at Rio seems to bea]
! a poetic reference to Napoleon''
3 fate. There is another circumstance
! connecting the iron mines OF Ri'
I with Corsica, for Peter of Corsica
or Petus Cvrneus, as he was callee
rom his historical work, the mos
Q elegant historian of Corsica, fec
: hither from his father-in-law, ant
supported his life by carrying dowl
i, iron ore to the port.
rf Since the earliest ages the iro'
Of Rio has been worked, withou
H. IL, ,rLtoak danroa nY