Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-02

| vi tHSnl nSsiIlf C,VOV tStl dbONc lut sea
that on the loftier peaks snow lies for
three-quarters of year, while the plains
beneath, but slightly above sea level, en-
Joy perpetual summer. In ancient times
/ Crete was noted for its hundred cities, its
civilization, its scores of little republican
communities, and last, but not least, for
the civil wars that were almost constantly
carried on by its population, for the Gre
tans were then as quarrelsome as they are
now
The islanders know something of their
own history, and are proud of the historic
| associations connected with their country
Now, as ever, they are intent on union
with Greece, and the more so as Greece is
a growing power, and likely at some time
in the future to become great The
Geeeks have not forgotten the glories of
Philip and Alexander, and leading men
among them hope that their country will
inherit the territory OF the Ottoman En-
pire. The population of Crete is about
100000, of whom 100000 are nominally
Christians or Turks, and about 10000 are
foreigners The Turks, renegades and for.
eigners live In the towns, where at least
they are measurably safe from violence by
sudden insurrection, and the counfy viii
lagos are occupied by the natives.
While the island is fertile, less than one
fourth of the cultivatable land is titled,
and that not well, for there is no incentive
to industry when it is insecure, and inse-
curity is the chronic state of Cretan in
vested capital. The Turkish tax-gatherers
are mercilessly severe in their collections,
and the heaviness of taxation may be
Judged of from an incident related by
recent traveller: Close to Khania Cretan
native farmer raised in the year 1880 $50
bushels of wheat. Of this amount seventy
bushels were taken by the Imperial tax
gatherer, twenty five by the Pasha of the
Villavet, and twenty by the officials of the
Greek Church, leaving but thirty-fve for
the farmer. Nor is this an exaggerated
case, for, as the Christians themselves ex-
pressed it, they a,e thankful when the
Turks do not take all. Labor is hopeless
under such taxation as this, but bad as is
their condition, it is not improved by the
fact that according to the rules of their
Church, nearly half the year is devoted to
festivals and saints days, and as the Cret-
ans do not work any more of the other
half than they feel obliged to, the amount
of labor done is far from startling. Their
industries are such as do not require much
manual labor. They raise fruits, dates,
grapes, figs, almonds, chestnuts, lemons,
oranges and, above all, olives, from which
they press by their rude appliances large
quantities of oil for export The wine is
excellent and exported in large casks,
borne along the streets by dozen men,
OF late years much attention has been
m IL a,,l
are exported to Australia, Italy, Germany
and France.
1t is remarkable fact that one of the
leading exports from Crete is toilet soap,
and there are forty-two factories on the
island, manufacturing over 700 tons
year. Visitors tell us that, although badly
needed, but little of this soap is consumed
in Crete. The Cretans cannot afford to
use it, and since it is made of pure mate
rials and of the best olive Oil, and per-
fumed with native aromatics, it forms an
excellent toilet soap, and is well known in
the European trade
The Cretans, however, dor take kindly
to manufactures. Fruit-growing is their
favorite occupation, for but little labor is
needed to plant and tend trees and vines,
and less is required for gathering the crop,
so they can give a large share of time to
their favorite diversion, quarreling and
fighting, at both of which they are very
proficient. The bravest among them are
the Sphakiotes, strong, hardy men and
beautiful women, the llneal descendants of
the old Greek pirates. They are mount
aineers, inhabiting the south and west of
the island, who, never having been thor
oughly conquered by the Turks, even when
most complaisant, yielded only a nominal
obedience. Their country is highly favor
able to the carrying on of guerrilla war
fare; the mountains are of volcanic origin,
and are broken by gorges and fearful
chasms through which body of men find
it impossible to force passage
In this part of the island are to be seen
the old Greek converts. situated at the
tops of almost inaccessible mountains and
rocks. They were built during the Vene-
tian days, when the Cretans were as much
opposed to the powers that ruled them as
they have since been to the Turks, and
were so located that their inmates might
be safe from bands of prowling marauders.
Many of these converts are now deserted
and in ruins, but in some the society has
been kept up for 1000 to 400 years, and
one, it is said, has an unbroken line of
elected abbots since the fourth century.
Their hospitality is genuine; they admit
parties of travellers, do not turn ladies from
their doors, will receive no pay for their
entertainment, and the longer people stay
the better pleased are the monks. Near
every monastery is cave or grotto. Some
of these retreats of anciet hermits are per-
vaded with the odor of great sanctity. The
most famous grotto known is the cave of
John, Greek saint, who lived sixty years
in his darkened retreat never seeing the
face of mortal, and veuturing out only at
night to lay contributions on the gardens
and fruit trees of his neighbors. Being on
one occasion mistaken for a robber he was
shot by an arrow in the hands of an en-
ragged householder, crawled back to his den
and died there on stone couch, now an
altar
The austerity of life in these converts is
something of which the Western world
has little idea. The Greek monk must
fast 246 days in the year, and on many of
these fast days even fish is not allowed,
while on others olive oil, eggs and milk
are also forbidden. Notwithstanding the
severity of this discipline the monks are
generally healthy and mostly fat. They
do not require their visitors to conform
to their own practices, but feed them with
the best that is in the house.
Crete is of great interest to antiquarians,
for in it may be found relics of every age,
from the time of Agamemnon to the pres
ent day. The field has been but little
worked, for, from some reason, relic hunt.
ers have not until recently turned their
attention to this quarter of the world. 1t
is nevertheless, very rich in antiquarian
treasures On the tops of almost inacces-
sible hills and mountains are the ruins of
Pelasgian towns, cyclopean in their struc-