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SARDINIA

Volume 16 · 481 words · 1797 Edition

an island of the Mediterranean, bounded by the strait which divides it from Corsica on the north; by the Tuscan sea, which flows between this island and Italy, on the east; and by other parts of the Mediterranean sea on the south and west. It is about 140 miles in length and 70 in breadth, and contains four up to the Strait of Gibraltar. The revenue arises chiefly from a duty upon salt, and is barely sufficient to defray the expenses of government; but it certainly might be considerably augmented, as the soil produces wine, corn, and oil, in abundance. Most of the salt that is exported is taken by the Danes and Swedes; the English formerly took great quantities for Newfoundland, but having found it more convenient to procure it from Spain and Portugal, they now take little or none. A profitable tuna fishery is carried on at the south-west part of the island, but it is monopolized by the Duke de St. Pierre, and a few more people, who happen to be proprietors of the adjoining land. Wild boars abound in the hilly parts of the island, and here are some few deer, not so large as those in Britain, but in colour and make exactly the same. Beesves and sheep are also common, as well as horses.

The feudal system still subsists in a limited degree, and titles go with their estates, so that the purchaser of the latter inherits the former. The regular troops seldom exceed 2000 men; but the militia amount to near 26,000, of whom 14,000 are cavalry. Their horses are small, but uncommonly active. In a charge, we should beat them; but, on a march, they would be superior to us. The country people are generally armed; but notwithstanding their having been so long under the Spanish and Italian government, affiliations are by no means frequent; and yet by the laws of the country, if a man slays another without premeditated malice, within four hours after quarrelling with him, he is not liable to be hanged. On the other hand, the church affords no protection to the guilty. The Sardinians are not at all bigoted; and, next to the Spaniards, the English are their favourites. The whole island is subject to the Duke of Savoy, who enjoys the title of king of Sardinia. See Cagliari.

There is in this island a pleasing variety of hills and valleys, and the soil is generally fruitful; but the inhabitants are a slothful generation, and cultivate but a little part of it. On the coast there is a fishery of anchovies and coral, of which they send large quantities to Genoa and Leghorn. This island is divided into two parts; the one, called Capo-di-Cagliari, lies to the south; and the other Capo-di-Lugary, which is seated to the north. The principal towns are Cagliari, the capital, Orifagno, and Saffari.