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Rhodes (Island in the Mediterranean)

an island in the Mediterranean, formerly appertaining to Asiatic Turkey, near the coast of Asia Minor; is 40 miles long, with a breadth of 21 CAPZYTE COIN OF RHODES miles at its widest point; area, 570 square miles; pop. about 50,000. It is traversed by a range of mountains, on which grow forests of pine, in great request for shipbuilding. Beneath this range rises a tract of lower hills, on which a species of the vine is largely cultivated, which produces the perfumed wine so much praised by the ancients. The tract beneath forms the greatest portion of the island, and, sloping gradually down to the sea, is watered by numerous streams, which renders it capable of producing the most luxuriant crops. A great part of the island is uncultivated, but it yields corn, olives, pomegranates, lemons, wine, wax, honey and figs. The manufactures are silk, RHODES shoes, red leather, and umber. Its exports are wax, honey, figs, and other fruits. Imports-colonial produce, woolens, iron, nails, shot, soap, cordage, hardware, coal, horses, cattle, carpets, and corn. By the terms of the Treaty of Peace with Turkey, Rhodes was assigned to Italy.