544 SAMOTHRAC

island of the Ionians. From the reign of Polycrates,566 b.c., this island is celebrated in history for theworship of Juno, who was said to have been bornhere, and was also distinguished for its skilful seamenand enterprising merchants, who even sailed as far asthe mouth of the Guadalquivir through the Pillarsof Hercules (now the Straits of Gibraltar). The fleetsof the rich Samians often made the Persians tremble.When Greece became tributary to the Romans, thisisland suffered severely, and it lost the last shadowof republican freedom under the reign of the emperorVespasian (70 a.d.). In the middle ages, Samos wasalternately governed by the Arabs, Venetians, Ge-noese, and Turks ; to the latter it ultimately becametributary, till the period of the Greek revolution.

It is 175 square miles in extent, very fruitful andmountainous, and besides the capital city, Cora, nearwhich the ancient Samos and the temple of Juno(Herseum) lie in ruins, it contains three other cities,Vahti, Carlovassi, and Fournis. In 1821, the inha-bitants of Samos took up arms at the report of theexecution of the patriarch. They fortified the har-bours on the Little Bogas, to guard against an attackfrom the coasts of Natolia, and soon collected about10,000 men. From that time the Samians continu-ally attacked the neighbouring coasts of Asia, andScala Nuova in particular. July 16, 1821, the islandwas attacked by the Turks, but without success. TheTurks, in August 1824, again made a more furiousattack ; but the Greek fleet, commanded by Miaulis,repulsed the Turkish.

Samos has lately been visited by an earthquakeof an extraordinary nature, that produced a largeopening in one of the highest mountains of the island,from which suddenly issued an enormous torrent ofwater, overflowing the country, and making its wayto the sea. By degrees, the inundation subsided,and terminated in forming a river, which has itssource at the opening formed in the mountain.

Samothrace. An island in the Aegean Sea, notfar from Lemnos, on the coast of Thrace, opposite theancient Trojan territory,and celebrated for its mysteries,the priests of which were at first the Cabiri, and after-wards the Dioscuri. An initiation into these mys-teries was supposed to have efficacy in preservingfrom dangers by sea: and it is related of the Argo-nauts, that, at the suggestion of Orpheus, who wasone of the initiated, they were landed at Samothrace.Over these mysteries there rests an impenetrableobscurity, which also extends to the deities thatwere revered. It appears certain that the Egyp-tian and Phoenician religious rites and ceremonieswere afterwards united and mingled with those of theGreeks, and that, still later, the religious worship ofthe Samothracians was introduced into Etruria,although the names of the divinities were changed.Nevertheless, out of respect for its mysteries, thisisland enjoyed, even under the Roman dominion, acertain degree of freedom; and, even after the birthof Christ, these long celebrated mysteries still en-joyed reputation.

Samoyeoes, or Samoiedes. A nomadic peopletraversing the immense frozen deserts which extendalong the ocean forming the northern boundary ofEuropean and Asiatic Russia. They extend fromthe river Mezen, on the European side, nearly to theLena on the Asiatic; in breadth the territory variesfrom 300 to 600 miles. The population of this cold,dreary, and barren country is not supposed to exceed

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20,000. The Samoyedes call themselves Khasovaand are divided into three tribes—the Yanoites «the Petchora and Obv, the Tysia-Igoley on tl leMezen, and the Khirutches in the interior of SiberiaThey are of small stature, usually between four wdfive feet; have a flat, round, and broad face, thick li wwide nose, little beard, black hair, in small quantityThey live by hunting, are extremely superstitiousand generally peaceable. As they are unacquaintedwith the art of writing, their traditions are imperfectlypreserved only in their songs. When the victoriousRussians first became acquainted with them, theyhad already been chased from their native seats bythe Tartars, and separated from their kindred tribes.Their original country is unknown, but they appearto have come from the south. Their principal wealthconsists in herds of rein-deer, which supply them withfood, clothing, tents, utensils, &c.

Samrongur. An ancient and extensive city aa few miles south of Bhareli, in Nepaul, of which"theruins only now remain. Lat. 26° 45' N., ion. 85'30' E. In this district are also the ruins of arerrlarge tank, named Bundar Pokrah, which, althoughuseless and neglected, indicates that this part of thecountry, at present overgrown with forest trees, wasformerly better populated, and in a more flourishingcondition. The ruins of Semroun are situated be-tween the Bukkia and the Jumna River.

Sanction, Pragmatic. This political term wasfirst applied to the ordinances of Charles VII. ofFrance, drawn up at Bourges, in 1438, conformablyto the decrees of the council of Basle, and on whichrest the liberties of the Gallican church. 2ndly. Thedecree of the German diet, at Mayence, in 1439,which sanctioned the same decrees of this council.Both limited the power of the pope, but were alteredby subsequent concordats. 3rd!y. The instrumentby which the German emperor, Charles VI, beingwithout male issue, endeavoured to secure the succes-sion to his female descendants. He soon inducedmost of the monarchs of Europe to guarantee it, butthe elector of Bavaria, Charles Albert, the next heirto his dominions, refused. This caused the Austrianwar of succession, after the death of Charles in 1740.In the peace of Fussen, April 22nd, 1 745, Bavariaacknowledged the pragmatic sanction. 4th!y. CharlesIII. of Spain, when he ceded the throne of Naples tohis third son and his posterity, in 1759, called the lawof succession, which he prepared for this branch of hisfamily, sanctio pragmatics.

Sanda. A town in Hindostan, situated on thesouth bank of the Goonee River, between Hyderabadand Luckput Bunder, on the route to Mamiavee, onthe Gulf of Cutch. Lat. 25° 6' N.

Sandakan. A bay and harbour in the island ofBorneo, district of Mangeedara. Opposite to thisplace there is an assemblage of islands, the most easterly of which is remarkable for the great plenty ofgreen turtle. The tortoise is also found here.

Sandal. A kind of covering for the feet, usedamong the Greeks and Romans, and which we findto be of the highest antiquity. It consisted of a thickcork sole, covered above and beneath with leather,and neatly stitched on the edge. It left the upperpart of the foot bare, and was fastened on by roea nsof straps, crossed over and wound round the ankle.

In later times, saudals became articles of much luxury.The higher Catholic clergy wear a costly embroideredsock, which is called a sandal.,