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)

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hills, excepting an opening to the south-east, and
another to the north-west: it extends between these
two openings for about twelve miles in length, with
a breadth varying from five to six miles. It is per-
fectly level to the bases of the hills that encompass
it, and a rich green velvet-like carpet is spread over
the whole. In the early part of the summer, the
exhalations from the currant blossoms, intermixed
with the innumerable odours from the flowers of the
various aromatic herbs and &shrubs with which it
abounds, united to the beauty of the scene itself, con-
vey emotions that are not easily described. The vil-
lages upon the mountain sides, and villas interspersed
through the plain, by their gay variety, add not a
little to this delightful effect.
That part of the soil termed the mould, is, con-
trary to appearance however, scanty; indeed it
would seem to be almost wholly artificial, and its
accumulation the result of incessant labour; a
labour which is, however, amply repaid by the pro-
duce of the currant, amounting in some years to
six million pounds’ weight, exclusive of other produc-
tions. The substratum is alluvial clay, of a very
refractory nature, intermixed with sand, the whole

vi manca in fine il riso, il piacere, la cortesia de’ villani, le grazie
delle contadine. Questa pud dunque dirsi ricca, ma non bella:
in effetto il sentimento ch> essa vi desta al primo aspetto svanisce,
inun momento colla sorpresa che lo produce, eppure questo mo-
mento e cosi sensibile che merita bene un viaggio per provarlo.”
Viaggio di Scrofani Siciliano in Grecia. Annis, 94, 95. Londra, 1799.