The island of Cephalonia is very rich; a great number of the inhabitants follow a sea-fearing life and possess about 250 merchant vessels which navigate and trade in the Mediterranean, and particularly in the Levant. The different articles composing the productions of the country, are exported to the gulf of Venice and Apulia. The wealth of the inhabitants consists in lands, vessels, and money. Their commerce extends only to the navigating by what is called a nolis, or charter-party, and to the exportation of their own produce. Before the decline of the republic of Venice, three commercial houses existed in Cephalonia which received commissions from Zante for account of Venetian firms, or received direct consignments from the latter; but this trade had degenerated into a species of robbery, and was usually followed by fradulent bankruptcies. At present this order of things no longer exists, and for several years no other commission house has been known except the firm of Charidi and Mataxá. The merchants are only allowed one-sixth of a sequin in each hundred on the amount of purchases made; but they have only to purchase the articles in the state in which they are found, and to hold them ready for delivery on the arrival of the vessels.
