Evening star., 1897-02-15
CRETE. THE OPPRESSED
Her People. Her Cities, Her Fruits and Her
Wrongs.
Nine RevOlts Caused by Turkish
ventiOn of q Foreign Power.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
A Greek mali steamer plies weekly be-
tween Piraeus. the seaport Of Athens. and
the Island of Crete. and travellers who miss
II, and who do not care to wait a week
longer, usually take passage on one of the
many small Greek freighters. These
freigh,ers touch first at the Island of SYRIA,
the ancient Hermopolis and the residence
Of the governor Of Cyclades Islands. After
a day in port there they proceed to Crete.
touching at the Islands of Naxos, Paros
and Siphnos, the whole trip lasting three
and one-half days.
HnrbOr of Canea.
The harbor of Canea. the destination of
the vessels. is protected by a well-preserved
fortress. one side of which extends down
to the edge of the water. The eastern side
of the fort Is about 100 feet long, the
southern side 2,40O, and the western side
1.so0. These walls are protected by four
ramparts, two OF which face the valley and
the other two the sea, and the whole is sur
rounded by a deep and wide ditch. The
northern side of the city is built down TO
the harbor. which is partly protected by a
chain of rocks hardly visible above water.
Upon these rocks is a wall 1.13O feet long,
in the middle of which is a strong rampant.
AT the eastern end of this wall is tower
with lighthouse, the light being visible
twelve miles away. At the western end
there is a fortress with few old-fashioned
guns. Although the harbor of Canea Is
larger than that of Gambia or Retimo, 1t is
very shallow and can accommodate only
small vessels Large ships usually anchor
in the bay of SCUBA, which is divided into
upper and lower bays.
The harbOr of SCUBA is, strictly defined,
the upper bay, being five miles long and
one mile and three-quarters wide, with
of fact oil cl md of fSpn
entrance of the harbor Is a fortress with
twelve Krupp guns. On the southern shore
Of the harbor is the Mediterranean navy
yard of Turkey. 1t is in this harbor that
most of the European men-of-war sent to
Crete find safe and comfortable anchorage.
The city of Canea, being the seat of the
governor general, has clean streets. fine
houses and some public buildings Of con-
siderable pretensions, such as the govern
ors headquarters and the court house,
both of which are Of modern construction.
The military hospital, two armories and the
health office also are fine structures. The
population of the city is estimated at IA, $40,
of whom 4. $50 are Greeks and $500 Turks,
100 Israelites and 300 Roman Catholics.
Nearly every European government is rep
resented by either consul or consular
agent. Most of these representatives live
In the small town of Halepa. about half an
hours walk from Canea.
Halepa became quite famous on account
OF the well-known treaty of 1878 that was
and the sultans ENJOYS. On lofty ground.
covered with olive pomegranate and al
mond trees. commanding an excellent view
of Halepa and the country around 1t. there
stands the famous Ottoman Tower of Hale
pa, built by the Janizaries. 1t is we'll forti-
fed, and has been a refuge for Turkish
families in revolutionary times.
The Turkish quarters of Canea are around
the Spanzia square. 1t was under plane
tree that the members of the Turkish COM
mittee usually met to discuss matters with
the Turkish authorities during the last
revolution. 1t was impossible for Chris
tian to pass through the square without
being attacked by the Mussulmans. 1t is
here also that the Mahommedan families
gather in the evening for recreation: they
sit on wooden benches and listen to the
music of the Arab musicians of Canea.
Greek Generally Spoken.
Until few years ago the population of
the Island of Crete was matter of conjec-
ture. The most trustw orthy census on the
island was taken in 1881, by. order of Gov.
Photiades, and is regarded by competent
authorities, both Christian and Mohamme-
dan. as fairly honest. 1t gave total popu-
laton of 30, 16J. OF these 905,O10 were Or
thodox Greeks, I3.234 MoEammedans. 253
Roman Catholics. Armenians. 647 Israel
ties and 13 Protestants- Nearly all the In
r,edan priests and teachers use the Greek
language in explaining the Koran or the
Turkish lessons to their pupils.
Besides Canea there are two other cities
Of some Importance in Crete, namely, Can
dia. inhabited by 1900 Turks and 5000
Greeks. and Retimo, with a population of
6321 Turks and $50 Greeks. Both cities
lie on the northern shore of the island, and
they are only a short distance apart
Not far from Retimo is range of hills,
known as the White mountains, with ex-
tensive table land at each end, which are
places of refuge during revolutions for the
hrt ia mi he mt inS
cred with pine. chestnut and cedar trees,
and abound IN springs of excellent water.
On the southern coast of Crete there are
few settlements of any importance. The
only noteworthy spot is the harbor of Fair
Havens, mentioned in the Acts Of the Apos-
ties, chapter q, verse 8. in which the vessel
carrying st. Paul to Malta found refuge.
Vessels today usually seek refuge in the
same port in bad weather. There are but
few small houses at Fair Havens, and
these are occupied by Turkish officials sta
tened there to report to the Aga of Deaki,
the chief village of this district, the passing
of vessels. These officials have little to do
On the east side of the bay there are the
ruins of an old Greek chapel dedicated to
ST. Paul, legend has 1t that the chapel was
built on the spot on which the apostle
stood when he preached to the natives of
Crete.
An Agreeable Climate.
No island has a healthier or more agree
able climate than has Crete. In the hottest
days of summer refreshing sea breezes are
seldom lacking. and winter. which begins
in December. ends about the latter part Of
January. The rainy season often continues
until late in April. but 1t very seldom rains
In the summer.
A chain of mountains divides the island
into what are called the northern and
southern slopes. One-third of the island
consists of rocky slopes; another third has
a fairly good soil. which remains unculti-
waited for want of farm hands: and the
other third Is cultivated only rudely for the
same reason. The cultivation of fruit re-
mains as 1t was centuries ago. The want
of progress is owing to the repeated acts Of
injustice committed against the Christian
farmers by the Turkish tax gatherers.
Olives and their oil are the staple products
of Crete. Valleys from one end of the
Island to the other are covered with olive
trees. Next to the olive industry comes
that of the vines producing many varieties
Of grapes. raisins and wine. Orchards of
orange. lemon. citron and almond trees
abound In the valleys. while chestnut and
fig trees are found Mt the base Of the noun
tains peculiarity of all Cretan products
is their exq Iisite flavor. which they retain
long after they are gathered and shipped
1t Is the opinion Of the oldest and best in
formed Cretan merchants that with proper
facilities for transportation of products to