Scrofes, where they fell in with it. The brig was pursuing its course to Patras: it had sailed two days previously from Prevesa, and had on board the hasnè destined to pay the arrears, due upwards of two years to the garrisons of the four fortresses at the entrance of the Gulf of Corinth. The sum amounted to a hundred thousand dollars. The Turks had no hopes of escaping from so superior a force; yet though proposals of surrender were repeatedly made to them, led partly by courage and fanaticism, and partly by the little reliance, they placed on Greek faith, they continued gallantly to defend themselves, and manœuvred to work their way into the channel between Cephalonia and Ithaca; and, after a fight of nine hours, they succeeded in running the ship on the south-easterly point of the latter island, where, hoping to find an asylum on neutral ground, they effected a landing, to the amount of only fifty in number, being all that remained out of two hundred and sixty, of which the crew had originally consisted. The captain, though slightly wounded, would not quit his vessel; and fell bravely, sword in hand, when the Greeks boarded it. The Turks, who had taken refuge on the island, entrenched themselves behind the rocks, and fired on the Spezziots, who landed to pursue them. Several were killed on both sides; but the Spezziots, thinking they might employ their time more advantageously in helping their comrades to plunder the ship, at length retreated. There was not, in fact, a moment to be lost; for hardly was the money disembarked, when the ship foundered. Captain Knox, who during the whole day had vented the bitterest imprecations against the Greeks, ordered a detachment to march to the spot where the Turks had landed, and escort them to the lazaret, where they arrived at night. Out of the fifty, thirty-five were

found wounded, and the wounds of most of them were of the most terrible description. Among the dead were several persons of distinction, of whom the most conspicuous was the Divan Effendi, or privy councillor of Youssouf Pasha.

Early the next morning Captain Knox sent to request me to call upon him. After stating the melancholy situation of these poor wretches, he told me that, for several reasons, he could not send any of the native practitioners to attend them; and as Mr. Scott, the surgeon of the garrison, was absent, he had no resource but in me for the performance of this duty of humanity. I complied with his request without a moment's hesitation; and having furnished myself with what would be necessary on the occasion, repaired immediately to the lazaret. Never can I forget the impression, my appearance produced on these men! The sullen gloom of despair, pictured on their countenances, gave way to the smile of hope; and subsequently, by signs more eloquent than words, they testified the gratitude they felt for the attentions, I bestowed upon them. No pleasure can surpass what is experienced by a medical professor under such circumstances.

In the afternoon a Turk of note, an emir, formerly Cadi of Tripolitza, who the day before had been left on the beach for dead, was brought into the lazaret; and the ghastly features of death seemed indeed to be portrayed in his countenance. Being seated among his countrymen, he feebly articulated the word tsiboug, a pipe; and it was no sooner brought him, than he seized it with both hands, and swallowed its smoke with the same greediness that a man, famished by thirst, would drink water. By degrees he gathered new life: the most generous cordial could not have produced a more reviving

effect. A second and a third pipe having been brought to him and smoked, he began to feel the calls of hunger and thirst, and asked for medical assistance. After securing the yet oozing arteries, I dressed his wounds; and I had some time afterwards the satisfaction of hearing, in Asia Minor, that Hussein Aga, perfectly recovered, was filling at Aleppo the same dignity he enjoyed at Tripolitza. The pipe is to a Turk a panacea both for mental and bodily sufferings; and during the several operations, I had to perform on this and other occasions on Mussulmen, the patients invariably had recourse to it as an anodyne, affording the best alleviation under whatever pain. I devoted two days to these unfortunate beings; and on the morning of the third, after I had dressed their wounds for the last time, they were embarked for Prevesa.

CHAPTER IV.

Caraiscachi-Calamo-Bozzari and Suliots-Arrival at Mesolonghi Description of the town and its environs-Various expeditions of the Turks against it without success-Heroic exploit of Marco Bozzari-Siege of Anatolico.

CARAISCACHI, whose good opinion I had forfeited by giving assistance to Turks, informed me, that for the present he should prosecute his journey no farther, but remain at Ithaca for a few weeks, his wife and daughter having just arrived. From the caloyero, who had accompanied them and brought him a portion of his treasures, he learned that Rangos had withdrawn his troops from Agrapha. Impatient of reaching Mesolonghi, I instantly embarked for Calamo, where I was given to understand I should find a ready conveyance, as the numerous Mesolonghiot families, that during Scondra Pasha's invasion had repaired thither, were now returning to their native town. Favoured by a strong wind, miserable as was the boat in which I had embarked, we reached the island in less than two hours.

Calamo is a small barren island about ten or twelve miles in circumference. Owing to its vicinity to continental Greece, from which it is distant only four or five miles, and being without the Turkish dominions, it afforded, at all times, a temporary asylum to the persecuted Greek, and sheltered him alike from the fury of his tyrants, and the avenging arm of justice. This, and a smaller island contiguous to it, were usually inhabited by a few shepherds, employed in tending the flocks, sent thither by the Cephaloniot noblemen, to whom both belonged. During the in

vasion of Omer Pasha, in 1822, so considerable a number of families took refuge on it, that they drew the attention of the Ionian government, which, without exposing itself to shame, could not refuse protection to the many defenceless women and children who implored its pity. Accordingly Captain Crummer was sent, in 1823, from Corfu with a small detachment, and immediately on his arrival the British flag was unfurled amidst the acclamations of this timid multitude.

The

It would have been difficult to have selected a person better qualified, by his benevolent and active mind, to prove useful on this spot of land, which, though narrow in itself, might on this occasion be deemed an extensive field of philanthropy. number of refugees amounted to eight or ten thousand helpless individuals, who, obliged to live under huts similar to kennels, had been deprived of most of the necessaries of life. Like a father to the colony, the captain constructed roads, mills, ovens, houses, hospitals, and, to the best of his power, administered to their respective wants. Every family, as they returned from the island, implored a thousand blessings on his head; and in reward of his virtuous conduct, let us hope that the prayers of these orphan and destitute suppliants were not dis. regarded! What contributed still farther to gain him the esteem and gratitude of the Greeks was the zeal he displayed in bringing to punishment an Ionian of the name of Mangiavino, and the manner in which he repaired the wrongs of those, who had suffered from the iniquitous rapacity of this man. During several months this individual had been employed at the health-office to examine and keep a register of those, who arrived from the continent; and to prevent the landing of such as were capable of bearing arms, or who might labour under any pesti