and all the reft o f the ifland fcarcely nine hundred; a fmaTl
number indeed, yet it may be reckoned large, confidering the
uncomfortable and difmal fituation. They cultivate neither com
nor oil on this ifland ; but it produces plenty o f wine, and an
immenfe quantity of fait; the other produits are wool, honey,
and a little fait fifb. The quantity o f wine amounts annually,
on a medium, to forty thoufand Venetian barrels; and, from
the hulks, they diftill two thouland barrels o f rakia or brandy.
The fait, in 1663, amounted to eight hundred thoufand Venetian
Stare. The fait works are well contrived, and well kept,
they extend along a (hallow pool, which forms the eaftern extremity
of the lake within, for four miles in length, and about
half a mile in breadth. On the fide's of this fen, the beft part
o f the vines lie; but the upper part o f the hills, on each fide,
is altogether naked and barren ; there is not even a fufficiency
o f fire-wood, and the inhabitants are obliged to provide them-
felves elfewhere. The foil at the foot o f the hills, where thé
•vines are planted, is full o f gravel and final! ftones ; and hence
the wine is of good quality. The air is not unhealthful, not-
withftanding the vicinity o f the fait pits; but the frequent high
winds carry off the noxious exhalations.
T he manners o f the inhabitants o f Pago are very unpolilhed
and fuperftition reigns among them. The fmall town has two
convents o f friars, and one o f nuns within the walls, and, at a
little diftance, there is a fourth. In the convent o f the Dome-
nicians, one o f the friars is eleded by the people, to the office
o f exorcifing the ftorms, and of keeping the ifland clear o f fum-
mer rains, which damage the fait works, and o f hail, which
deftroys the vines. The good friar had executed his office,
to general fatisfadion, for two years, when I was there; and,
o f
o f confequence, was held in high veneration, and colleded very
plentiful contributions from the people.
I found not a fingle medal, nor infcription, nor MS. or a man
of good fenfe in all that town ; every body is interefted in the
fait pits, and whoever talks not o f fait is not regarded.
They pretend that there was an ancient city on the fpot now
called Terra Vechia-, where there is a convent o f friars; I went
thither, but had not the good fortune to difcover any thing like
the remains of antiquity.
They fay that this ifland has been abandoned more than once;
and indeed it is rather to be wondered at, that it is inhabited at
a ll; the interefting objed of the fait pits being the only motive
that can induce people to live in fuch a difmal place.
At the end of the valley, oppofite to the fait pits, and ten
miles diftant from the town of Pago, there is a trad o f land not
entirely bad. There the caftle of Keffa veterana flood, whereof
mention is often made in the records o f the low times; and
probably not far from thence, further up, flood Gijja-, as fome
pieces of ancient marble, infcriptions, and coink are found
thereabouts. That part o f the ifland is under the jurifdidion o f
jlrbe j there is fome corn land, and people in proportion, and.
a large fpring of excellent water, whereby the theep and oxen
of that diftrid are better and larger than in any o f the other
iflands of the Quarnaro. The names of Novaglia vecchia, and
Novaglia nuova, which the two villages go by, indicate a Latin
origin.
There