Goodisson, William: A historical and topographical essay upon the islands of Corfu, Leucadia, Cephalonia, Ithaka and Zante: with remarks upon the character manners and customs of the Ionian Greeks : descriptions of the scenery and remains of antiquity discovered therein, and reflections upon the Cyclopian ruins, illustrated by maps and sketches (London: Thomas and George Underwood, 1822)

172

Port Chieri, the best bay in the island, is situated
at the south-west extremity of this range: it is of a
semicircular shape ; each horn is flanked by a little
island, Peluso on the eastward, and Maratonisi on
the south-west. Upon the right hand side of this
bay, going in, are beautiful white cliffs of tufa, where
the stone is cut for building in the city: the pitch
wells are also situated here, which, although their
produce is not very valuable, exhibit a great natural
curiosity: and as they are mentioned by ancient
writers, a description of them may not be deemed
uninteresting.
At the bottom of the bay of Chieri is a little
marshy plain, lying at the base of the southern
extremity of the great range of mountains, and of
about a quarter of a mile in extent. A theatre of sand
hills surrounds it, richly ornamented with olive and
evergreen shrubs. On the right hand side of the
bay going in, is a beautiful stratification of sandstone,
and the plain of Zante opens here to the south-east.
The soil of this little plain is so marshy as to be
wet in the middle of summer, although the substra-
tum appears to be stiff clay, and it gives source to a
little brook, which empties its black water at the
bottom of the bay. The largest well is distant
about five minutes’ ride from the beach ; its diameter
is about three yards, and its depth does not exceed
three feet. The water of this well is clear and good,
excepting that it has the flavour of tar ; a blueish
scum floats upon the surface, of about the consis-

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