The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-04-08
SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTS.

sIn Lippincou's Gazetteer (lS79) we find
'Scio (Khio, Khios and Khio), an island belong
ing to Turkey, off the west coast Of Asia Minor
four miles west OF Cape ~Bianco-length, north to
south, thirty-two miles, greatest breadth, eight
cen miles area, sos so. miles surface, much
diversified. 1t is naturally, one of the richest
and most beautiful islands of the Levant, and it is
recovering from the desolation to which it was
reduced by the Turks during the Greek rcvolu-
tions. The principal products are wine of SUI
perior quality, mastic, silk, wool, cheese, figs,
oranges, lemons and other fruits. Less wheat
has usually been raised than required for home
consumption in consequence of the inhabitants pre-
fering more remuneratiye cultures. Previous to
1922, the island was the best governed and most
prosperous of the Grecian Archipelago ana had
thriving silk manufactures, and considerable trade
with Constantinopie. Syria and Egypt. But in
the above year some of it's inhabitants very few
of them) having joined the Samians in their re-
volt, all the population, comprising from l20.-
600 to l3O, 900 persons, were massacred or sold
in slavery (they being too peaceful to offer any
resistance) and the buildings and plantations
were for the most part destroyed.
Actual population estimated 62 600.
About Scio, the capital of the island, on the
middle Of the eastern coast, the above authority
adds that it has manufactures of velvets and
lighter fabrics, and it's harbor carries on con-
siderable trade. Population, Ia, 500.''
To the above details We moreover find in the
''CyclopedIa Americana (l854) the substance of
the following items :-'' A healthy climate. The
wines of SciO were celebrated even 10 the re-
hottest antiquity. The produce Of the mastic
alone is about eighty tons a year, valued at 800
900 piastres. The beauty of the females is cele-
brated. Very important in antiquity, the island
still shows many interesting remains OF ancient
art and civilization. and it claimed with Smyrna
to have given birth to Homer Here is found
a lengthy account of the war and disaster OF
1922. I'm March 1923, the population was only
10000, but lately the Sultan ordered the ~restora-
ton of the property and estates to the natives
without reservations
Further in McCulloch's Geographical Die
tionary Q849) we note what follows It's eli
mate is mild and delightful and it has numerous
Ene springs and rivulets and a considerable extent
Of level and gently sloping lands. DIR. Clarke says
it is the Paradise of modern Greece, more pro-
ductive than any other island and yielding to
none in grandeur. 1t has always been cultivated
with the greatest care and assiduity. About the
mastic, the method of gathering which was fully
described by Tournefort, it seems to be the most
esteemed of the modern products of the island
being IN great request among the Turkish ladies.
All the mastic trees are supposed to be the prop
erty of the Sultana mother, i'll whose peculiar
demeSne the island was included. But formerly
the trees were left with the island itself to the
inhabitants witt but little interference on the
part of the Turks, on the condition OF their an
nuallY furnishing a certain quantity Ct mastic to
the OOVernOF, IUr tue use OF tne InpeflI OeraRllO
and besides paying a moderate capitation-' And
it is to the comparative exemption it has thus en-
joyed from Turkish despotism and rapacity that
the s~prightly vIvacity of it's inhabitants and their
greater industry, enterprise and prosperity are to
be ascribed.
The capital was the cleanest, ha~ndsomest, and
most desirable town as a residence in the Levant.
1t had numerous schools Of Greek and Roman
Catholic churches and a handsome college.
The silk manufacture was carried on on a large
scale and their velvets, damasks and other silk
goods were highly esteemed.
1t has been for many years the entrepot in
the Archipelago.
Even in the olden times, the good name and
character of the Chians asserted itself Moderate
in prosperity, blameless toward their neighbors,
and using their increasing wealth and power for
no purpose of ambition, but directing their
politics merely to secure the happiness they en-,
joyed, the Chians were among the most respect
able Of the Greek States milford iii. o.. 3lG.)