SWEET-SGENTED ISLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 14, 17 January 1931, Page 1 (Supplement)

SWEET-SGENTED ISLE.

PICTURESQUE CORSICA.

A HOTCH-POTCH HUMANITY.

CHEEK-BY-JOWL CONTRASTS,

"A eorkless perfume bottle where the sweet scent of the maquis shrub permeates the atmosphere; where men are lazy and . women's "heads vie with doijkey carte as transports; -where modern, customs have only trickled a short distance beyond the quays of the larger parts and' left the pancake hats and the stone and mud huts of the . Natives as they were centuries ago." .

Such is Corsica. France'B largest / ' ° Mediterranean island possession, which the French Government is fortifying.

Turtle-shaped Island. Corsica is an island of rugged mountains and verdant valleys peopled by slightly more than a quarter million inhabitants—human remnants of Phoenician, Etruscan, Carthaginian, Roman, Vandal, Goth, Pisan, Genoese and Moorish invaders.In shape the island resembles a turtle. The neck of the reptile stretches toward Genoa. With the exception of a shallow bay. here and there the island's eastern shore forms a smooth turtle shell, while the rock-ribbed cliffs separating the deep gulfs of the 'western coast form the fegs of the imaginary animal. A circle to note the location of the town of Rogliano, far up on the northern peninsula, marks a. good position for the turtle's eye, while the. hook of land at the southern end of the island suggests a stubby tail. , ;

Bastia, a , typical Genoese city with buildings of three and four storeys flanking narrow streets, is the only important port on the Corsican east coast. Most of the larger sea outlets nestle in protected spot 6 around the shore line of the gulfs on the western shore of the island. Among these are Ajaccio, the island capital. . That city of 20,000 inhabitants has wide boulevards lighted with electricity, and motor cars mingle with donkev carts. There are no beggars, a fact in which Corsica takes much pride. » ' . Many Reminders of Napoleon. Corsica, was the birthplace of Napoleon. But outside of . Ajaccio, where travellers may Visit the house in which the French leader was born, the islanders appear unaware that Napoleon was one of their illustrious sons.. Ajaccio, however, insists that Napoleon shall not be forgotten. . , Travellers land on the Napoleon Quay. Guides lead sightseers to the Cours Napoleon and the Rue Napoleon, two of the city's important streets. There it a Cafe Napoleon, a Napoleon Grotto, a Napoleon Museum and a Napoleon Theatre. The souvenir stands are cluttered with statuettes of the general and picture post-cards of his birthplace.

And men smoke "Petit Caporal" cigarettes while , lounging about two large statues of Napoleon.

Government roads are reaching the remote villages of the island and a railway links the larger Corsican ports. Buses and private motor care throw dust into the faces of the stubborn little donkeys of the rural districts, but they have not yet driven the reliable Corsican transports from the roads.

From bus or train window, the traveller gets a glimpse of what keeps tlie Corsican in food and clothing. Around the tiny . mountain villages dangling from rocky perches, graze huge herds of sheep and goats, which yield the skins and wool tliat figure in Corsica's trade. Then there are vast groves of olive trees, and small tobacco plantations. Citron is also produced and preserved by the natives, while chestnut forests furnish chestnut meal for Corsican bread. The nuts also provide feed far animals. — (A.A.N.S. Copyright.)