[p.vii-viii] However full of faults the Ionians may be, I maintain that they have not more than might be expected from the corruptness of the Venetian domination, from those human frailties which are so conspicious in small societies, and from a natural vehemence of character that that distinguishes the Greek people: but, on the other hand, they are endowed with virtues that are no less prominent; if they have received much evil from education, they have received much good from nature; and I found more of the latter than the state of the society led me to expect. The richer classes are lively and agreable in their manners; and among the men, many are well informed. The women possess both beauty and wit, in abundance, but their education has been, generally speaking, much neglected. The poor are not less industrious than other southern nations; and an extraordinary degree of intelligence characterises all ranks. A spirit of commercial enterprize distinguishes the hardy mountaineers of Cephalonia; they are full of pleasant humour and vivacity, and their resemblance to the Irish people is striking, in every thing but their sobriety; for though the Cephalonian labourer drinks freely of the potent wines, which his mountains so abundantly produce, yet a drunken man is seldom to be seen, and among the rich inebriety is unknown. ...