In io numerous a population, which goes on increafmg every,
year, as well through internal caufes, as by the acceffion o f foreigners,
invited to live under the mild government o f the re*
publick, there is a very fmall- number o f beggars. The people
o f Cherfo is generally very well clothed,•according to the cuftom
o f the country, not ragged and nafty as in many- o f the neighbouring
places. Their cfoaths are made o f a coarfe dark coloured
clbth, as'all the Illyrians’ life krWeaF; a cuftom-kept up for many
ages, and taken from theScythiabis; thfiranceftors. Irr the time
o f Jlerodotus, a part of the Scythians were CallecLftiAai^Aa««,-
that, is wearers of black cloaths;
The moft dangerous diftemper at Cherfo, is the dyfentery;.
which fometimes makes great havock on the ifland. In-general';-,
however, the people are healthy,, and of good conftitutions-. Probably
their afliduity in working, together with the goodnefs of
the air, contributes to maintain them in this ftate. The children
of the low people are employed from their tendered age,,
either in cultivating the land; fiihing,. o r attending the cattle;
M a n y are employed in the manufacture o f Rajcia, which is a
coarfe bind of woolen fluff, and perhaps takes -its name from
Rafcia, where it forms a coniiderable branch o f trade. The fpi-
rit of economy is one ,of the principal characters o f the mothers
o f families at Cherfo ;> and . ladies -in :thei.qaiieft circumftanees, do
riot think it below them to overlook their domeftick affairs; their
cuftom is to rife with the day; and they reckon idlenefs an in-
famy. 1
Among the ch ie f families o f tlie ifland, are tliofe oiColombisi
Bocchina, Moife,' de Petris, Zambelli. They are all equally hospitable
and courteous, o f which, during our ftay there, we had
fufficient
fufficient proof. Thefe iflanders not only preferve .the cuftom
¡of wearing dark colouredjcloaths, like their progenitors, but alfo
the ancient modes and facial virtues. Kindnefs rto, their guefts,
honefty, and piety formed, the character of the Illyrians, two
thoufand. years ago, o f which the moft ancient o f thegeogra--
pher poets has left us his ieftitnony,*
There being no public fchopl at Cherfo, learning-is not much
cultivated. Yet there are. dome learned eeclefiafticks among
them; and Dr. Artico, a phyfician, does honour to the city,
though not born there, by his learning,- as well as by his fince-
-rity and eaftnefs of manners. Perhaps the want o f a fchool contributes
in part to maintain the indocility o f which that, people is
accufed; and other particular caufes, which-are foreign to my
purpofe, concur now and then to enforce it.
The Slavii, or Sclavonian language, which is more widely
diffufed than any o f the other European dialefts,- is commonly
¡ufed by the people, and the peafants of the ifland, and they
fpeak it in a manner not inelegant. Many words and phrafes,
analogous to the Greek, are met with in common difcourfe, as
¡latte mimalo f it i, “ give me fomething to drink” , which feems
nearly allied to ¿wts pc01 ptotWov t f iv e iv ; trapeza, a -table ; tnys, a
moufe, alii, but ; and firomah, poor; which feems taken from
the greek fo e. They alfo ufe the greek r l for interrogation, as
iifm iete l why do you laugh? And they have articles, increments,
* ............—Seog-jCn; i av-tut tryat,
K,i opty* SiKiw, Scjrmno! Chiu», inter Cengraph. m:n. Hudfoo.