an island of the Mediterranean, near the coast of the Morea, 19 miles south east of the island of Cephalonia, belonging to the Venetians. It is about 24 miles in length and 12 in breadth, and very pleasant and fertile; but its principal riches consist in currants, with which it greatly abounds. They are cultivated in a very large plain, under the shelter of mountains on the shore of this island; for which reason the sun has greater power to bring them to perfect maturity. The town called Zante may contain near 20,000 inhabitants; the whole island contains about 40,000. The houses are low, on account of the frequent earthquakes, for scarce a year passes without one; however, they do no great damage. The natives speak both Greek and Italian. There are very few Roman Catholics among them; but they have a bishop as well as the Greeks. This place has no fortifications, but there is a fortress upon an eminence planted Zanthoxylum planted with cannon. In one part of this island is a place which shakes when trod upon like a quagmire; and a spring which throws out a great deal of bitumen, especially at the time of an earthquake. It serves instead of pitch to pay the bottoms of the ships, and about 1500 barrels in a year are used for this purpose. There are about 50 villages in the island; but no other large town beside Zante. It is seated on the eastern side of the island, and has a good harbour. The English and Dutch have each a factory and consul here. E. Long. 21° 3'. N. Lat. 37° 53'.