DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0030
ISLANDS AND COAST OF DALMATIA, ISLAND OF LESSINA. 7
the crusades. Geoffroy de Ville-Hardouin1 calls it, " Iadres en
Esclavonie, &c. Cite fermie de halz murs, et de haltes tors, et
pornoiant demandesiez plus bele, ne plus fort, ne plus riche/'
In the night we passed near the islands of Morter and Coronata,
perhaps the Portunata of Pliny, and several smaller rocks; and,
the next morning, being becalmed, took the opportunity of landing
at Zuri, to cut wood. This island is formed of round and rocky
hills, extremely barren, producing only stunted cypresses, lentiscus,
myrtles, junipers, and wild sage, which our sailors cut for fuel.
The small quantity of soil on this island is planted with vines, olives,
figs, and other fruit trees: it contains about one hundred and fifty
inhabitants, and two small villages; the principal one is situated
near the sea, and neatly built of the fine stone of the island. Oppo-
site Zuri, on the Dalmatian side, is the island called Rachen ; which,
although of considerable size, has not the smallest appearance of
cultivation. The situation of the towns of Scardona2 and Sebenico,3
on the Dalmatian coast, was pointed out to us, but were not visible
on account of intervening islands: the latter is a large and well-
fortified place, and the see of a catholic bishop. On the 7th we
passed near the islands of Solta, Trau,4 and Bua, which intercepted
the view of Spalatro,5 and the magnificent remains of the palace of
Diocletian, and two Corinthian temples. The islands of Bratsa6 and
Nirenta were to our left; and to our right those of Lissa,7 Melisello,
and Sant' x\ndrea, in Pelago : the former has several villages; the
two latter are little more than uninhabited rocks. On the 8th we
landed at Lessma, and in an hour continued our course. The next
1 De la Conqueste de Constantinople, p. 29. Paris edit. 2 Retaining its ancient
name. '5 The ancient Sikoun. 4 Tragurium. 5 Salon. 6 Brattia, or Brettanis.
7 Issa. This island anciently had its mint, some of its autonomous coins are known : on one
of 3d brass is the head of Minerva—rev. a diota, or two-handled vase—ins. II. On ano-
ther is the same head—rev. a deer—ins. IS. A third has a female head—rev. a star—ins.
I22A. The diota is probably represented on its coins in allusion to its good wines, which are
praised by Athenajus in his Deipnosophista.
the crusades. Geoffroy de Ville-Hardouin1 calls it, " Iadres en
Esclavonie, &c. Cite fermie de halz murs, et de haltes tors, et
pornoiant demandesiez plus bele, ne plus fort, ne plus riche/'
In the night we passed near the islands of Morter and Coronata,
perhaps the Portunata of Pliny, and several smaller rocks; and,
the next morning, being becalmed, took the opportunity of landing
at Zuri, to cut wood. This island is formed of round and rocky
hills, extremely barren, producing only stunted cypresses, lentiscus,
myrtles, junipers, and wild sage, which our sailors cut for fuel.
The small quantity of soil on this island is planted with vines, olives,
figs, and other fruit trees: it contains about one hundred and fifty
inhabitants, and two small villages; the principal one is situated
near the sea, and neatly built of the fine stone of the island. Oppo-
site Zuri, on the Dalmatian side, is the island called Rachen ; which,
although of considerable size, has not the smallest appearance of
cultivation. The situation of the towns of Scardona2 and Sebenico,3
on the Dalmatian coast, was pointed out to us, but were not visible
on account of intervening islands: the latter is a large and well-
fortified place, and the see of a catholic bishop. On the 7th we
passed near the islands of Solta, Trau,4 and Bua, which intercepted
the view of Spalatro,5 and the magnificent remains of the palace of
Diocletian, and two Corinthian temples. The islands of Bratsa6 and
Nirenta were to our left; and to our right those of Lissa,7 Melisello,
and Sant' x\ndrea, in Pelago : the former has several villages; the
two latter are little more than uninhabited rocks. On the 8th we
landed at Lessma, and in an hour continued our course. The next
1 De la Conqueste de Constantinople, p. 29. Paris edit. 2 Retaining its ancient
name. '5 The ancient Sikoun. 4 Tragurium. 5 Salon. 6 Brattia, or Brettanis.
7 Issa. This island anciently had its mint, some of its autonomous coins are known : on one
of 3d brass is the head of Minerva—rev. a diota, or two-handled vase—ins. II. On ano-
ther is the same head—rev. a deer—ins. IS. A third has a female head—rev. a star—ins.
I22A. The diota is probably represented on its coins in allusion to its good wines, which are
praised by Athenajus in his Deipnosophista.