The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-16
|THE ISLAND Or zAh1E J.
HAS MANY EARTHQUAKES
Prosperity Lacking for That Reason
In Spite Of SalubriOus
Climate.

1
In Spite Of SalubrfOus
Climate.
Washington, d. c.. Jan. 15.--Zante.
the famous currant island OF the
Ionian Sea. where the revolutionary
movement against the policy OF King
Constantine followed close upon the
heels Of similar manifestations of dis
content in Crete and Lesbos, IL de-
scribed by the National Geographic So
ciety in the following war geography
bulletin:
THE frequency with which Zante is
visited by earthquakes of disastrous
severity accounts in some measure for
the comparative lack Of prosperity on
this Ionian island which enjoys a sa
luhrious c l m a Q. 10 abundantly
watered by springs. still deserves the
appellation OF wooded Zacynthos' APP
piled to it by the poet Virgil. and
whose central plain Is veritable gar
den spot with it's succession Of vinc-
yards and olive groves.
"Zante lies eight miles south of the
island Of Cephalonia, and Is nine miles
west OF the nearest point on the Pelop-
onnesian Coast. Its greatest length is
about twenty-five miles and 1t has a
maximum breadth OF twelve miles
sists of a series of bare. limestone
mountains which terminate in precipi-
tous cliffs on the seward side. but
which slope gradually down to the
eastward until the luxuriantlv fertile
central plain Is reached. The eastern
side Of the island also IL elevated, but
here the hills ara clad with vines and
groves OF fg, olive and orange. The
olives OF Zante are with the exception
Of those grown on the neighboring
island OF Corfu. the largest In this part
OF the world.
THE chief product Of the island
and the principal article of export is
the currant (which derives its name
from its native city. Corinth). This
small grape, which grows on dwarf
vine. has played and Is still playing
an important role in the economic life
Of Greece. A mania for currant cul-
ture swept over Zante and other sec
lions of the country adapted to the
vines growth during the last quarter
OF the nineteenth century. Farmers
seemed to 90 mad in their haste to
raise this crop, Just as the Dutch went
wild over the cultivation OF tulips in
a previous century. This feverish i'm
petus to the industry came as the re-
suit of an insect pest which destroyed
large part of the French grape crop
In 1877. Dried currants were used by
French manufacturers a. a substitute
In making certain grade of blending
wine. Prices scared, and Greek cur
rant planters saw enormous fortunes
within their grasp. Olive groves and
orange orchards were destroyed ruth
lessiy to make room for currant BUSH
es. The reaction was inevitable and
disastrous. for when the ravages OF
the phylloxera were checked in the
vineyards of France that nation Inn
HAa Nnrf f~~ ar
currants in order to rehabilitate their
own wine industries. 1t became neces-
sary for Greece to evolve some method
of protecting the Zantiots and other
currant raisers, but emergency laws
have not proved altogether efficacfous.
so that what with earthquakes and the
Cutting OF the currant markets the lot
of the island has no been a happy one
during the last two decades.
Zante was colonized either by the
Arcadians or Achaens In very early
times. It remained independent for
many generations. but In the middle
OF the fifth century before the Chris
tian era the Athenian admiral, Toll
mides forced the inhabitants to ac-
knowledge the supremacy OF his city.
while Sparta's sway was accepted after
the Peloponnesian war. In 357 B. c.
the island was used AZ base OF ope-
rations against Syracuse by Dion, the
pupil Of Plato who had been banished
from his native land. his property
conf,scated and his wife given to
another by the tyrant Dionysius The
expedition was a success. but Dion's
career as master of Syracuse was
short lived. for he fell victim to
the assassin Calippus. one OF his own
Athenian followers.
THE Macedonians conquered Zante
in PIT p. c.. and they were followed
49, xu-tN HAnxlwr N
the island was a part of the province
Of Epirus. vandals. Normans. Franks
and Turks held the island in turn until
1885 when the venetians bought II
from the last named conuuerors. The
long suzerainty OF the republic city
Is reflected today not only in the ap-
pearance of the people but In their
aristocracy boast OF their Venetian
descent while they speak both the
Greek and Italian languages.
"In 1897 the island became French
possession. ard shortly afterward was
occupied for a brief season bv the
Russians who were followed by the
British. In 1864 England ceied Zante |
modern kingdom Of Greece,
AN interesting natural phenome- |
non Of the island is q shallow spring |
on the Bay OF Kerr where both pitch
and water bubble UP. The pitch has
been used by the natives in caulking i
their boats since the days Of Herodo- |
tus.
ION the east coast Is the capitaI city |
and chief seaport, Zante. occupying |
the site of the ancient city of Zacyn- |
thoA Its $4,000 people represent a
third OF the total population OF the is
land"
49, n