4 CEPHALENIA.
CEPHALENIA, the most populous Island of this Sea, is situated over against Acarnania, part of the Province of Epirus, having on the South-East Zant, on the North-west Corcyra or Corsu. In length containing 80 miles, 40 in breadth, the whole compasse being reckoned at 160. Once cal∣led Tetrapolis from the number of foure Cities in it: but three of them were decayed in the time of Ptolemie, who takes notice of no more then one, and that of the same name with the Island. Woody and mountainous in most places; but the mountaines intermixt with Valleys, and the Woods with champagne: plentifull in Wheat, Honey, Currans, Manna, Oyle, incomparable though not long-lasting Muscadels; as also in Cheese, Wool, Turkies: and Powder for the dying of Scarlets. So destitute of water, as having no River and not many Fountaines, that when their Cattell would drink, they gape both morning and evening to receive the dew distilling insensibly from the clouds.
The people are for the most part Greeks, some few Italians naturalls of the Signeury of Venice being intermixt: the whole number of the Inhabitants computed at 6000 families; the number of the townes and villages to 200 or thereabouts. The principall whereof I Cephalenia, fortified with good workes, and a very strong Castle. 2 Argastolie, an haven town, distant six miles from Ce∣phalon; the Port thereof capable of a sufficient Navie. 3Sydre, another Port-town also, lying to∣wards the South.
As for the fortunes of this Island, it was first called Melena; after Teleboas: and being known by that name, was made subject to Thebes, by the valour and good conduct of Amphitryon, the The∣ban Generall, by whom Pterelas, the King hereof, was slaine inbattell. During which warre, and the stay of Amphitryo in this Island it hapened that Cephalus, a noble Athenian, having by misadven∣ture killed his wife Procris with an Arrow, which he shot at a Deer, not daring to abide in his own countrey, fled unto Amphitryo his old friend, then newly victorious over the Teleboans: who pi∣tying his case, made him the Governour of this Island, (since from his name) called Cephalenia. Having continued for some time in the power of the Thebans, it passed together with Zant, and some other Islands into the hands of the Macedonians; from whom in the declining of their affairs, the Acheans got the Isle of Zant, and the Aetolians, Cephalenia: But long they had not held them when the Romans began to look towards Greece, who under colour of setting the Continent at liberty, made themselves masters of both the Islands; that so they might at leisure possesse the whole, as in fine they did. In the division of the Empire they fell as parts of Greece, to the Constantinopolitans: and on the taking of that City by the Western Christians, they fell with almost all the rest of the Islands, to the State of Venice: the Governors whereof retaining Corfu, and some others of most importance in the hands of the Signeury, permitted these, (as many other of lesse note) unto private Adven∣turers. At the conclusion of the peace betwixt Mahomet the Great, and the State of Venice, these two with Neritos or Leniadia, (spoken of in Episus) were seised on by that Tyrant in despight