ZANTE (pronounced Zant), the Zacynthus of the ancient and modern Greeks, is so celebrated for its beauty and fertility, as to have acquired the appellation of "Fior di Levante." It is 60 m. in circumference, 15 m. from Chiarenza in the Morea, and 10 m. from Cephalonia. The population amounts to 40,000 persons, of whom about16,000 or 18,000 reside in the city. The greater part of the island is formed by an extensive plain, which stretches from the N. to the S. coast about 6 or 8 m. broad, bounded W. by a parallel range of hills which form the coast on this side, to the E. by Mount Skopo, and the eminences surrounding the city of Zante. On the summit of Mount Skopo is a convent.

The city of Zante, the largest and most populous of the Ionian towns, is situated on the E. coast at the upper part of a bay, of which it forms the semi-circular outline. Its extreme breadth does not exceed 300 yards, except in one point, where the houses extend up the Castle Hill, which rises immediately behind the town, and is fortified on the top. On the land side, the descent of the hill is not only precipitous, but as smooth as the sur

face of a wall, and is therefore not so strongly fortified as that towards the town - resembling in this the Acropolis of Athens.

Hotels: The Giglio, near the Piazza, is the only establishment pretending to the name of hotel in Zante. There is however a lodging-house near the Piazza kept by the Widow Raftopulo, where travellers may find very comfortable and reasonable accommodation.

The style of building at Zante is chiefly Italian; the streets are in general narrow, but better and cleaner than those at Corfu; the principal street is more than m. in length, with a piazza on each side, with long ranges of shops, chiefly of jewellers. The houses, of Venetian architecture, in general have iron bars and lattices of wooden framework attached to each window, which give them the appearance of prisons. This is the same custom which prevails in Turkey, and would seem to have been adopted for the same purpose, viz., the concealment of the young ladies from inquisitive eyes. The exclusion of unmarried females from society prevails here to an incredible extent, notwithstanding the efforts of the English authorities. It is said that many young ladies would be unable to find their way even through the streets in the immediate vicinity of their own houses.

The churches are numerous, and several of them are richly ornamented with carving and gilding. St. Dionysius is the tutelary saint of the island. A Catholic bishop resides here, and there are 2 Catholic churches; but the number of persons professing that religion is very small.

There is no Protestant church or place of worship in Zante, and there is no resident clergyman except the military chaplain, who has of late been stationed there. In Cephalonia there is a military chaplain, and all in Zante who wished to have baptisms or any other rites of the church per

formed, were formerly obliged to cross over to that island, or wait until that chaplain visited Zante, which was rarely more than once or twice a year.

A school on the Lancastrian system has been established here, and is supported by voluntary contributions. Here 60 boys, and the same number of girls, are taught writing, reading, and needlework, and instructed in the modern Greek, Italian, and English languages. This establishment owes much to the indefatigable labours of the Rev. Mr. Croggan, who conducted it for some years.

The piazza or square is spacious and handsome, though it has no claim whatever to its title in regard to shape, for it cannot be likened to any known figure. A second square, or rather an extensive piece of waste ground, lies between it and the sea, and is the usual promenade and exercising ground. On this spot has been placed a monument of Sir Thos. Maitland, executed at Rome. Three figures in relievo on its base, representing Minerva supporting Innocence and unmasking Vice, are much admired.

The mole, or jetty, is well built of solid masonry; and for the further protection of shipping, has lately been lengthened about 600 feet. The bay, however, is still much exposed to S. W. winds, and is far less secure than the ports of Ithaca and Cephalonia.

From the citadel is a view of the greater part of the island, the highly cultivated plain, interspersed with villages, and bounded by lofty hills, the Black Mountain of Cephalonia rising in gloomy grandeur behind. On the seaward side the view well repays the ascent to the citadel. The whole coast of Greece, from Missolonghi to Navarino, is distinctly visible, with a blue line of mountain bounding the coast, behind which appear the still more lofty snowcapped tops of those to the N. of the Gulf of Lepanto, as well as those

scattered through the heart of the Morea.

The great trade of Zante is its exportation of currants; but it also grows and exports a great deal of oil and common soap. The currant trade of the Ionian Islands is now exceedingly depressed in consequence of the immense quantity of that fruit (which is the produce of a dwarf vine, and derives its name from Corinth, whence it was first brought into these islands,) having been of late grown in the vicinity of the Gulf of Patras, and in the northern and southern parts of the Morea -a growth which is still increasing, and will in a few years be beyond belief. The consumption not having increased in an equal ratio with the growth, has caused a great glut of the article, for the islands of both Cephalonia and Zante have increased their growth nearly double, so that in an abundant year Cephalonia may soon be expected to produce 20 millions of pounds, whilst Zante may be expected to soon produce at least 12 or 15 millions. Patras and Greek currants are considered of better quality than those of Zante, and those of Zante are better than those of Cephalonia.-(J. R.) The wine of Zante is much superior to that of Corfu or Cephalonia, and so highly esteemed, that it is to be found in all parts of the Levant.

Earthquakes are of frequent occurrence here, and have been sometimes very destructive. That which oc curred on the night of Dec. 29. 1820, was the most serious within the memory of man; the walls of the strongest buildings were demolished, and every part of the town was filled with ruins. 80 houses were totally destroyed, nearly 1,000 more or less injured, 10 persons were killed, and 30 wounded. On the 30th of October, 1840, the island suffered severely from the effects of a dreadful shock, by which 8 persons were killed and many severely wounded.

The celebrated Pitch wells at Zante

aspect is rocky and barren, and the number of inhabitants does not exceed 9,000. The chief products of Cerigo are corn, wine, oil, raisins, honey, and wax. Some cotton and flax are also grown on the island, and there is a considerable produce from the milk of the goats which feed over its rocky surface.

Cythera was the favourite haunt of Venus. Here was erected to her one of the most magnificent temples she

had in Greece. It contained a statue of the goddess arrayed in arms, as Pausanias informs us. Some slight remains of antiquity are pointed out, but without any certainty as to the situation of this temple.

Cerigo is the "Botany Bay" of the islands. Convicts are sentenced to different periods of banishment there, in proportion to their crimes. It is garrisoned by a company of soldiers, and is a very solitary station.