A.D. 800; and after various other revolutions, it fell under the power of Turkey. It is at this time one of the chief ports of modern Greece, containing before the late revolution 60,000 inhabitants, of which 12,000 were Jews. Its present name is Saloniki.
THE ISLANDS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Crete, (Acts xxvii. 7,) now called Candia, Kirid, or Kriti, is an island of the Mediterranean, one hundred and seventy miles long and fifty broad; population 250,000, about equal numbers of Greeks and Turks. Constantinople lies five or six hundred miles north-east of it, and Syria six or seven hundred miles east. It was formerly a rich and powerful kingdom, and is still remarkable for its delightful climate and fertile soil. Oil, corn, fruit trees, and vines are among its principal productions. The city of Candia, which is also the fort and capital of the island, lies on the northern coast. A Christian mission is already established there. Crete was settled, as it is generally supposed, by Philistines from Egypt, part of whom afterwards passed over to Palestine, and are called Caphtorim.
Probably Paul visited this island after his imprisonment at Rome, and established a Christian church there, which he left under the oversight of Titus. (Tit. i. 5.)
The Cretans were once noted for vicious habits. This character was given them by many profane historians.
Cyprus. (Acts iv. 86.) A large, fertile, and salubrious island of the Mediterranean. It is of a triangular form, two hundred miles long, and sixty in its greatest breadth. Population 120,000, of whom 40,000 are Greeks. Some suppose it to be the same with Chittim. The chief productions of Cyprus are, as formerly, wines, oil, honey and wool. It is a famous place in mythological history, and was distinguished for the licentiousness of its inhabitants. Barnabas was born, and, according to tradition, suffered martyrdom in Cyprus.
Salamis, (Acts xiii. 5,) was the principal city and seaport of the island of Cyprus, and received the gospel from Paul and Barnabas, A.D. 44. The ruins of
