CHAP. CXI1I.

coni'ferte. ^'bif.s.

2327

Holland was informed that some of the stones of this altar, and of the bonesof the animals sacrificed on it, were still occasionally to be found on its site.“ The name of the Black Mountain,” he says, “ was obtained from the largepine forests which once covered its acclivity; but, during the disturbed stateof the islands fifteen years ago (about 1798), these forests were wantonly seton fire, and in great part destroyed; so that now (Feb., 1813) the appearanceof the mountain entirely contradicts its name. This is especially the case onits southern side, where the precipitous point, which rises by a single majesticelevation from the base to the summit, is broken by numerous deep gullies,displaying the white limestone rock of which the mountain is composed.”(Travels in the Ionian Isles , &e., p. 35.)

The main ridge of the Black Mountain lies in the direction of north-westand south-east. The upper part only is, or rather was, covered with forest ;while the lower part of the sides is covered with vineyards, olive grounds,corn fields, and gardens. The ridge, General Napier informs us, is verynarrow, and its sides steep, and in many places almost without soil; never-theless, this fir springs, in many places, from the crevices of the rock, though,like other mountain trees in similar cases, the tree only attains a large sizein mountain hollows, where the soil is deep and the situation sheltered.Neither Pouqueville nor Olivier mention this forest; and,though Dr. Pocockespeaks of the mountain, the highest point of which he calls Mount Gar-gasso, he does not mention its trees. This omission is, however, accountedfor by the fact, that Dr. Pococke did not go on shore on the island. InGeneral C. J. Napier’s work, entitled The Colonies, published in 1833, there aremore ample details. It is there stated that, notwithstanding a great part of thisforest was burned down several years ago, it is still very extensive ; though it isgreatly injured by the vast number of goats which are permitted to range atpleasure among the trees, and which destroy the young ones by uniformly'biting off the leading shoot. As wood is very valuable in Cephalonia , theforest , General Napier observes, might be made a source of great riches andutility; and twenty years’ care, would make it magnificent. Count Ma-rine Mataxa, one of the nobles of the island, he adds, told him that, “ whenlie was presented to the Emperor Napoleon , His Majesty’s first questionwas about the forest on the Black Mountain.” ( Colonies , Sec., p. 336.) Thefollowing is an extract from an Agricultural Report made to Colonel Conyersrespecting this forest in 1832, by Mr. Edward Curling, the director of theColonial Farm already mentioned: — “ Before I conclude, I must draw yourattention to the fine forest of firs that might be had on the Black Mountainof Cefalonia . With a very little attention, this would form a source of richesto the islands, which, at present, import all the wood they require for houses,ship-building, &c. This forest, at one time, contained some of the finest treesm the world, but was unfortunately burned down by the negligence of someGreeks in setting fire to their lands; and, since then, the goats have effectuallyprevented anything like a good tree from growing. These animals always eatoff the leading shoot, and thus entirely ruin the tree: for this fir does notrenew its leading shoot when injured. And thus, only stunted crooked treesare to be found, except a few that have sprung up since Colonel Napier tookPains to keep the goats out; though, immediately that the island was left inless attentive hands, the goats renewed their incursions. Even these youngtrees are in danger of being destroyed by the women who collect resin, whotake off about a foot of the bark of the leading shoot; and, of course, the treedies. Colonel Napier has made a road up to the forest; and the thinningswould pay all the expenses of taking care of it, as firewood sells enormouslytlear at Argostoli .” ( Colonies , &c., p. 283.)

“ It has been said that ‘ it is useless to take any pains to protect this forest,as there is scarcely a tree in it worth the trouble;’ but this is the very reason'™y it should be protected, to prevent the trees from being injured as theyhave hitherto been, and to allow the trees to attain a timber-like size.” (Ibid.)

History. As far as we have been able to discover, no botanist has yet