hostages, that the Greeks compelled the Turks to suffer innumerable privations, to eat grass and human flesh, and ultimately to surrender, rather than allow one of them to be harmed. When the Cambrian received a remnant of this garrison, I saw a little girl of twelve years of age come on board gnawing the foot of an ass, the skin and sinews of which she had peeled off. Many of the others had just strength enough to get to the different ships, and then died. There was one curious trait in this siege, which I shall relate, as it affords an example how the Turks and Greeks feel towards each other, and how this patriotic war was conducted. Colocotroni, whose patriotism is on a par with his disinterestedness, got all his own followers into the town, and took particular care that none of the rabble should share in the plunder. Each man followed the example of their noble leader, and cared very little what the Government got, provided he was satisfied. The rich Turks were too well acquainted with the power of a bribe not to know its effect on a Greek. They used, therefore, to call some one whom they had previously known, and tell him, "Now I have got so much treasure; I will give you the half of it, provided you allow me to retain the other half, and escort me to the ships: if you won't do so, I will tell your companions, and they will then divide my property among them, and you will get nothing." A great number of such bargains were made. After this they were escorted to the different vessels; and it is an odd circumstance, that although the various massacres of Navarin, Tripolizza, &c, had already taken place, yet comparatively few of the rich would come on board the Cambrian they said they knew the captains of such and such vessels, they were their friends, and to them they would go.

LETTER XXVII.

Zante, 24th March, 1823.

ELEVEN Greek cruizers continue the blockade of the Gulf, but have performed this duty so ill, that several vessels have arrived at Patrass, and have succeeded in landing their cargoes there, so that now there is an abundant supply of provisions.

Owing to the impossibility of obtaining an adequate supply for the troops stationed at Corinth, the two surviving Pashas determined on removing the remnant of their army, leaving a garrison of eight hundred men in the Acropolis. Accordingly, Ali and Hassan Pashas, with a thousand men, arrived on the 5th ultimo at Patrass, on board the Turkish corvette and other small craft stationed in the Gulf: they ordered the rest of the troops to proceed by land, owing to the want of transports. This division only reached Patrass a few days since it consists of two thousand five hundred men, and they appear to have suffered the greatest hardships since the period of their leaving Corinth. The division consisted of about three thousand five hundred men when they first set out, about a third cavalry, the rest infantry. They had provisions for five days, and did not meet with any opposition until they

reached Akrata, where they were effectually stopped by a party of Greeks. Isouf Pasha proceeded in his squadron to their relief, but owing to the stormy weather and the nature of the coast, was compelled to return to the Morea Castle without effecting his purpose. The Greeks having gained several advantages in skirmishes, still continued to harass them, and receiving reinforcements, pressed the Turks so closely, that part of them were compelled to enter into a treaty to surrender, as they had no provisions left, and with their horses were actually dying from starvation. In this critical conjuncture, Isouf Pasha made another attempt to rescue them; and having hired three European vessels, in addition to his own squadron, succeeded in embarking the survivors*.

* This division was under the command of Delhi Achmet, the Delhi Bashi, or commander of the Cavalry of Dramali. This coast is for the most part bold and rocky, and the mountains run almost perpendicularly into the sea, leaving but a line of level road for the troops to march on. The Turks, half famished, disheartened, and weak, crept along the sea-shore as far as Akrata, within a few miles of Vostizza. Here there is a tongue of land that runs boldly into the sea, at the back of which are the Mavralitharia, or black rocks. The Greeks, who had tracked them narrowly, occupying the tops of the mountains, while their eneinies marched at their bases, now determined to inclose them: for this purpose they dug deep trenches on each side of this tongue of land: thus the Turks were shut up on a piece of ground shaped like a T: the perpendicular portion represents the tongue, while the transverse figures the coast where the black rocks have been isolated by the two trenches. In this spot the Turks remained one month, and the privations they underwent almost

In order that some idea may be formed of the deplorable state to which these poor wretches were reduced, I will venture to repeat an account verbally communicated to me by the Captain (an Englishman) of one of the three vessels hired as transports. The greater part of the Turks were so debilitated through want of food, that their rescue and embarkation were effected with difficulty, and even then the cravings of nature could not be satisfied, owing to the scanty supply which had been hastily put on board the vessels. In many instances the sailors sold part of their allowances, and for a single biscuit obtained the enormous price of a machmoudié (equivalent to thirteen shillings). A few biscuits having been sold at a similar exorbitant rate, on board the vessel of the narrator, the desire of possessing them gave rise to a dispute between the purchasers and their starving companions, during which fire-arms were used, and the quarrel only terminated in the death of one of the parties!

I have been particularly anxious to obtain a correct account of the disasters of the large army which invaded the Morea in July, 1822. The following

exceed belief. Delhi Achmet himself told me that for three weeks they lived on horse-flesh; that then they resorted to human flesh. They fought over the graves of their comrades whom they had buried in the morning, and dug up at night to satisfy the cravings of hunger. Isouf sent a few boats with provisions, and these famished wretches emptied their girdles for a single biscuit. At last this conduct was too bare-faced, and he was obliged to send ships to relieve and bring the survivors to Patrass.

particulars I obtained from Cara Osman Öglu, the Commissary-General, and from other Turks who were with the army.

It consisted of twenty-three thousand men, although rations were allowed for twenty-eight thousand: there were also between fifty and sixty thousand horses and mules, as, independent of a horse, many of the men possessed three or four mules, acquired by pillage in the different districts through which they passed. Of this force fifteen hundred men were sent to the relief of Napoli in July, under the command of Ali Pasha, formerly Ali Bey, Governor of Argos. Another division of five thousand men attempted to penetrate by Argos to Tripolizza, but were repulsed by the Greeks, and wanting provisions, returned to Corinth with a considerable loss. In addition to the supplies brought with the army, five cargoes of wheat and rice were received at Corinth from Constantinople and Alexandria, besides a few occasional supplies sent by Isouf Pasha from Patrass. Napoli being quite destitute of provisions, Ali Pasha made the most pressing demands for a supply, which Dramali attempted to furnish, by sending two expeditions, only one of which arrived safe, and that consisting of fifty mules laden with wheat and rice, escorted by a body of cavalry. The town of Corinth having been burnt by the Insurgents before they evacuated it, the troops were compelled to bivouac in the open air, or some few under tents; the rainy season set in,