DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0068
44 CORFU, EPIRQS.
Strabo says that in his time Epiros was thinly inhabited, although
it was once extremely populous, and citing the authority of Theo-
pompos, he informs us that it contained at one period fourteen
nations. We are at first inclined to doubt the veracity of historians,
who tell us that the proconsul Paulus iEmilius destroyed seventy
cities in Epiros, and took 150,000 prisoners! not that Roman ty-
ranny would spare when it could destroy; but that it appears un-
likely there should have been so many cities in that mountainous
region. Some travellers however, who have lately visited that coun-
try, have discovered the remains of numerous cities and castles in
high preservation, which denote an early period of architectural
knowledge. Livy is the best and almost the only guide through this
country.1
We were detained longer than we had expected at Corfu, from the
inability to obtain a boat, in the crew of which we could sufficiently
confide. Our distrust was excited by the intelligence, that a physi-
cian, with his wife, child, a servant, and two Turks, had been lately-
murdered on their passage from Ithaca to Corfu. It was supposed
that they had a large sum of money on board; and this circumstance
appears to have excited the crew to put them to death during the
night. Their bodies were cast into the sea. One of the boatmen,
stung with remorse, soon afterwards revealed the horrid atrocity,
and the perpetrators were apprehended.
TO SANTA MAURA. (Leucadia.)
The canal of Santa Maura, through which we had to pass, is looked
upon as a most dangerous place for pirates, who conceal themselves
nions
Mons. Pouqueville, who is lately returned to France after a long residence in the domi-
is of Alj Pasha, informs me, that he has seen the remains of sixty-five cities in Epirps.
Strabo says that in his time Epiros was thinly inhabited, although
it was once extremely populous, and citing the authority of Theo-
pompos, he informs us that it contained at one period fourteen
nations. We are at first inclined to doubt the veracity of historians,
who tell us that the proconsul Paulus iEmilius destroyed seventy
cities in Epiros, and took 150,000 prisoners! not that Roman ty-
ranny would spare when it could destroy; but that it appears un-
likely there should have been so many cities in that mountainous
region. Some travellers however, who have lately visited that coun-
try, have discovered the remains of numerous cities and castles in
high preservation, which denote an early period of architectural
knowledge. Livy is the best and almost the only guide through this
country.1
We were detained longer than we had expected at Corfu, from the
inability to obtain a boat, in the crew of which we could sufficiently
confide. Our distrust was excited by the intelligence, that a physi-
cian, with his wife, child, a servant, and two Turks, had been lately-
murdered on their passage from Ithaca to Corfu. It was supposed
that they had a large sum of money on board; and this circumstance
appears to have excited the crew to put them to death during the
night. Their bodies were cast into the sea. One of the boatmen,
stung with remorse, soon afterwards revealed the horrid atrocity,
and the perpetrators were apprehended.
TO SANTA MAURA. (Leucadia.)
The canal of Santa Maura, through which we had to pass, is looked
upon as a most dangerous place for pirates, who conceal themselves
nions
Mons. Pouqueville, who is lately returned to France after a long residence in the domi-
is of Alj Pasha, informs me, that he has seen the remains of sixty-five cities in Epirps.