converted by the Portuguese, are either Mahome- ians or pagans, the latter much the more nu- merous. The principal territories are Jubo, Me- linda, Mombaza, and Quiloa. The Portuguese trade for slaves, ivory, gold, ostriches feathers, wax, and drugs. The productions are much the same as in the other parts of Africa, between the tropics.
Zante, an island in the Mediterranean, forming part of the Ionian republic. It is situate near the coast of the Morea, 17 in. S. of the island of Ceph- alonia, and is 14 m. long and 8 broad. Its prin- cipal riches consist in currants, which are cultiva- ted in a large plain, under the shelter of moun- tains. Here are also the finest peaches in the world. with other choice fruits, and excellent wine and oil. The natives speak both Greek and Ital- ian, though there are a very few Roman Cath- olics among them; but they have a bishop as well as the Greeks. Pop. 50,000.
Zante, the capital of the foregoing island, is pleasantly situated on an eminence on the E. side of the island, at the bottom of a small bay. The houses are built partly ofbrick,and partly of wood, and seldom more than one or two stories in height, on account of the frequency of earthquakes ; the last visitation of this kind was in 1820,when sever- al hundreds of houses were overthrown. The har- bour is capacious and is protected by a mole. 12 m. W. of Cape Tornese,in the Morea. Pop. 20,000.
Zanzibar, an island in the,Indian Sea, on the eoast of Zanguebar, between the islands of Pem- ba and Monsia. It abounds in sugar canes and citrons. The inhabitants are Mahometan Arabs, and are governed by a sheik appointed by the iman of Mascat. Long. 41. 0. E., lat. 6. 0. S.
Zara, a city of the Austrian states, capital of a circle of the same name, and of the whole of Aus- trian Dalmatia, with a harbour. It is situated in a plain, upon a small peninsula, joined to the continent by an isthmus of about 25 paces broad. On the side of the citadel it is very well for- tified. Near the church, which the Greeks call- ed St. Helia, are two handsome fluted columns of the Corinthian order, said to have been part of the temple of Juno. This place was formerly more considerable than at present, the number of the inhabitants being now not above 8,000. The circle contains an area of 2,150 square miles, with
100,000 inhabitants. There are very fine paint- ings in the churches, done by the best masters; and they pretend to have the body of Simeon, brought from Judea, and kept in a shrine with a cryst 1 before it. Zara is seated on the gulf of Venice 80 m. S. W. of Jaicza, and 150 S. E. of Venice. Long. 16. 6. E., lat. 44. 30. N.
Zareng, a town of Persia, in the province of Segestan. _ It is celebrated for its beautiful porce- lain, and is seated on the Hirmund, 350 m. E. of Ispahan. Long. 61. 10. E., lat. 32. 28. N.
Zaril, a town of Greece, in the Morea, 22 m. E. of Mishra.
Z.xmate, a town in the Morea, seated on an emi- nence 20 m. S. W. of Misitra.
Zarnowitz, a town of Prussia, in Pomerelia, on a bay ot the Baltic, 38 m. N. N. W. of Dantzic.
Zaslaw, a town of Poland, in Volhinia, seated on the Honn, 30 m. N. N. W. of Constantinow.
Zatmar, a strong town of Hungary, capital of a county of the same name. It is seated on a small lake, formed by the river Samos, 50 m. E. by S. of Tockay, and 130 E. of Buna. Long. 22. 34. E., lat. 47, 50. N. |
Cracow, with a castle; seated on an eminence near the river Vistula, 20 m. S. W. of Cracow and 50 S. E. of Ratibon.
Zaweh, a town of Persia, in the province of Khorasan, situate on the Tedjen, 20 m. from the Caspian Sea, and 80 N. of Mesched.
Zbaras, a town of Austrian Poland, 28 m. E- o' Zborow and 68 N. by W of Kaminieck.
Zborow, a town of Austrian Poland, in the circle of Lemburg. Here, in 1649, John Casimin king of Poland, with 20,000 men, was attacked by 110,000 Cossacks and Tartars, for three days successively, but defended himself so bravely that the latter consented to terms of accommo- dation. Zborow is 52 m. E. by S. of Lemburg Long. 25. 46. E., lat. 49. 46 N.
Zealand, or Zeeland, an island of Denmark, of a triangular form, 2301m. in circumference, and the largest of the isles belonging to the king of Denmark. It lies at the entrance of the Baltic having the Categat on the N., the Sound on the E., and the Great Belt on the W. The coast is much intersected by large bays; and within the country are several lakes, which as well as the riv- ers, abound in fish. It is exceedingly fertile, pro ducing grain of all sorts with excellent pasture and in most parts plenty of wood. It is particularly famous for its breed of horses. Copenhagen is the capital of this island and of the whole king- dom.
Zealand, a province of Holland comprising the ancient county of Zealand and Dutch Flanders bounded on the N. by the isles of Holland, E. by Brabant, S. by Flanders, and W. by the German Ocean. It is composed of several islands, the principal of which are AValcheren, Schowen, N and S. Beveland, Tolen, Duyveland, and Wolf ersdike. The surface is generally* level and lies so low that the inhabitants are obliged to defend themselves from encroachments of the sea by vast dykes, which are kept up at great expense. The river Scheldt forms the most of these islands, and the soil of them is fruitful. The province carries on considerable trade in corn, madder, flax salt meat, linen yarn, rapeseed, oil, &c. The greater part of the inhabitants are Calvinists, but there are also many Catholics and Lutherans, and some Mennonite Baptists. The principal towns are Middleburg and Flushing.
Zealand, New, in the Pacific Ocean, was discov- ered by Tasman in 1642. He traversed the east- ern coast from lat. 34. to 43. S. and entered a strait; but, being attacked by the natives soon af ter he came to an anchor, he did not go ashore. From the time of Tasman the whole country ex- cept that part of the coast which was seen by him, remained altogether unknown, and was oy many supposed to make part of a southern conti- nent, till 1770, when it was circumnavigated bv captain Cook, who found it to consist of two large isands, separated by the strait above men- tioned, which is four leagues broad, and to which he gave his own name. Along the coast there are many small islands ; and it is indented by deep bays, affording excellent shelter for shipping and abundant supplies of wood and water. There are also several rivers capable of receiving large ves- sels, and in which the spring-tide rises nearly ten feet perpendicularly. Of the two islands, the southernmost, called by the natives Tavai, or Tovy Poenammoo, is for the most part mountain- ous and barren. As far inland as the eye car. reach, nothing appears but mountains of stupen dous height, consisting of rocas that are totally |