The commerce of Zante, as I have already stated, is maintained entirely by the produce of its plains. Currants, oil, and wine form the chief articles of export; of which the first is by far the most important, nearly two-thirds of the land in cultivation being occupied by the vine which produces this fruit. Its culture is carried on with much neatness; and in the month of, June, when the flower is out, the aspect of the great vineyards on the plain becomes singularly rich and beautiful. The currants are gathered about the beginning of September, somewhat sooner than other grapes; they are spread abroad for eight or ten days; and are usually ready for packing by the end of September, or the beginning of October. The average annual produce of currants in Zante, for the last few years, has been upwards of 7,000,000lbs.; the crop of 1812 was estimated at 8,000,000 lbs.; a large proportion of which quantity is exported to England, for the consumption of this country. As the imports into Zante are not large, a considerable part of the payment for cargoes of currants is made in specie, the transactions in which were formerly carried on through Treiste and Venice; but during the war have been in great measure transferred to Malta. The consumption of the article appears to have been increasing; and in 1809 it was calculated that, of about 21,000,000 lbs., the produce chiefly of Zante, Patias, Cephalonia, and Thrace, nearly 17,000,000 lbs. were bought up for export before the end of September. The price of currants at Zante varies from 14s. to 18s. per –cwt., exclusive of shipping expences. They have been reported somewhat inferior to the fruit of the Morea; but probably there is little real difference in quality. The new currants are always brought upon the dinner-tables at Zante, as a part of the dessert.
The produce of oil in Zante averages about 60,000 barrels every two years; that of winè is said to be 4,000 barrels, besides which there is a considerable export of oranges, lemons, ec. That the trade of the island is progressive may be inferred from the increase of the customs; which, if I rightly recollect, were farmed in 1813 for about 75,000 dollars; a much larger sum than they had been accustomed to produce. The English government of the isles has doubtless contributed to this prosperity.
The imports into Zante are small in colonial and manufactured articles, which, until lately, were chiefly supplied from Venice and other Italian ports; but now in great measure through Malta. The principal article of import, however, is corn; the supply of which from the island itself, is not nearly adequate to its consumption. I have heard it estimated, that about a third of the corn consumed was grown in the isle; another third obtained by the labours of the Zantiotes, who go over to the Morea to assist in the tillage and harvest; and the remaining third purchased with money from the same quarter.
