Acarnania, a province of ancient Greece, bounded X. by the Ambracian gulf and Am-philochia, which is by some included in Acar-nania, E. by Aetolia, and S. W. and W. by the Ionian sea. It is mountainous, with numerous lakes and tracts of pasture, and its hills are still well wooded. Among its earliest inhabitants were Leleges, Curetes, and colonists from Argos. The Acarnanians were more akin in character and manners to their savage neighbors of Epirus than to the Greeks proper. Up to the time of the Peloponnesian war they were a race of shepherds, continually fighting, but faithful and steadfast. They also figure as pirates. Though possessing several good harbors, the Acarnanians paid little attention to commercial pursuits. - At the present day it forms with Aetolia a nomarchy or province of the kingdom of Greece; area, 3,024 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 121,698. The country is thin-ly inhabited, and little cultivated, notwithstanding its fertile soil and treasures of sulphur and coal. Besides the Greek population, there are bands of nomadic Kutzo-Wal-lachs, here called Karagunis (black cloaks), who in the winter descend from the northern mountains of Agraphi and encamp with their herds at the edge of the woods.

They speak a dialect akin to the Latin. Different from them are the nomadic Sarakatzanes, who are of Greek origin. A band of the Karagunis embraces from 50 to 100 families, constituting a stani, and is commanded by the most wealthy member as chief (tchelinga), who farms the pastures and fixes the time of departure. They are skilled in making cotton goods. Capital, Missolonghi.