DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0041
Chap, ii.] CORFU—FIRST IMPRESSIONS.' I'd
trace of verdure. After passing the harbour of La Valona
and the point of Linguetta, we sailed under the high moun-
tains of Chamarra or Khimara, " infames scopulos Acroce-
rauniEe," a most iron-bound coast indeed, formed by lofty
mountains rising precipitously from the water's edge. At
three p.m. Corfu appeared in sight, about forty miles ahead,
but the breeze died away towards sunset, and we were
becalmed before we had reached S*- Catarina. But I never
shall forget that sunset, with the fine outline of Corfu on
our right, and the bold coast of Albania on our left: nothing
could equal the brilliancy and delicacy of the purple tints
iipon the hills, or the balmy feel of the evening air as it
stole over the surface of the water ; it was one of those
scenes which poets often sing of in a Grecian clime, but
which we are too apt to attribute to the imagination of the
writer until we have ourselves experienced the reality.
After dark, we passed the lighthouse and the Turkish
harbour of Bucintro, which, it is pretended, gave its name
to the vessel in which the Doge of Venice wedded his
Adriatic bride. Within this harbour is the fishing toAvn of
Peschiera, where large quantities of the grey mullet are
caught, from the roe of which is prepared the well-known
Botargo.
Saturday, Sept. 5. — It was daylight before we dropped
our anchor in the harbour of Corfu, where after a ceremo-
nious visit from the officer of the Sanitii, and the production
of a clean bill of health, we were admitted to pratique, and
landed immediately. On reaching the shore, I was much
struck with the total change of costume, manner, and ap-
pearance of the inhabitants, from what we had left in Italy
and Germany. Here, Greeks and Albanians in every
variety of dress vied with each other in picturesque ap-
pearance. The Greek boatman with his long moustache
dropping on each side of his mouth, and the gaudily
dressed Albanian strutting about with his belt stuck full
of curiously embossed pistols and daggers, told us that we
were at length in the Levant; that the great change was
trace of verdure. After passing the harbour of La Valona
and the point of Linguetta, we sailed under the high moun-
tains of Chamarra or Khimara, " infames scopulos Acroce-
rauniEe," a most iron-bound coast indeed, formed by lofty
mountains rising precipitously from the water's edge. At
three p.m. Corfu appeared in sight, about forty miles ahead,
but the breeze died away towards sunset, and we were
becalmed before we had reached S*- Catarina. But I never
shall forget that sunset, with the fine outline of Corfu on
our right, and the bold coast of Albania on our left: nothing
could equal the brilliancy and delicacy of the purple tints
iipon the hills, or the balmy feel of the evening air as it
stole over the surface of the water ; it was one of those
scenes which poets often sing of in a Grecian clime, but
which we are too apt to attribute to the imagination of the
writer until we have ourselves experienced the reality.
After dark, we passed the lighthouse and the Turkish
harbour of Bucintro, which, it is pretended, gave its name
to the vessel in which the Doge of Venice wedded his
Adriatic bride. Within this harbour is the fishing toAvn of
Peschiera, where large quantities of the grey mullet are
caught, from the roe of which is prepared the well-known
Botargo.
Saturday, Sept. 5. — It was daylight before we dropped
our anchor in the harbour of Corfu, where after a ceremo-
nious visit from the officer of the Sanitii, and the production
of a clean bill of health, we were admitted to pratique, and
landed immediately. On reaching the shore, I was much
struck with the total change of costume, manner, and ap-
pearance of the inhabitants, from what we had left in Italy
and Germany. Here, Greeks and Albanians in every
variety of dress vied with each other in picturesque ap-
pearance. The Greek boatman with his long moustache
dropping on each side of his mouth, and the gaudily
dressed Albanian strutting about with his belt stuck full
of curiously embossed pistols and daggers, told us that we
were at length in the Levant; that the great change was